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beckon

[ bek-uhn ]
/ ˈbɛk ən /
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See synonyms for: beckon / beckoned / beckoning on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with or without object)
to signal, summon, or direct by a gesture of the head or hand.
to lure; entice.
noun
a nod, gesture, etc., that signals, directs, summons, indicates agreement, or the like.
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Origin of beckon

before 950; Middle English beknen,Old English gebē(a)cnian, derivative of bēacenbeacon

OTHER WORDS FROM beckon

beck·on·er, nounbeck·on·ing·ly, adverbun·beck·oned, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use beckon in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for beckon

beckon
/ (ˈbɛkən) /

verb
to summon with a gesture of the hand or head
to entice or lure
noun
a summoning gesture

Derived forms of beckon

beckoner, nounbeckoning, adjective, noun

Word Origin for beckon

Old English bīecnan, from bēacen sign; related to Old Saxon bōknian; see beacon
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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