beckon

[bek-uh n]

See more synonyms for beckon 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.

Origin of beckon

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

Related formsbeck·on·er, nounbeck·on·ing·ly, adverbun·beck·oned, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms for beckon on Thesaurus.com

1. motion, wave, gesture, bid, nod. 2. invite, attract, draw, coax, tempt, tantalize, allure, beguile.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for beckoned

Contemporary Examples

I got up to leave and Biden, with his usual graciousness, beckoned me to stay.
Exposed: The White House’s Professor-in-Chief
Jonathan Alter
October 8, 2014
She beckoned to them, gesturing as if she were going to give them a treat.
Hitler’s Killer Women Revealed in New History
Wendy Lower
October 6, 2013
During the course of the party, Charles Monteith, one of the Faber board, beckoned me out into the hall.
Sylvia Plath’s Darkest Sea: What an Unveiled Draft Poem Reveals
Olivia Cole
May 3, 2013
Last week Emanuel was beckoned to head an existing but lagging effort.
Rahm Emanuel Up Against a Teacher’s Strike
James Warren
September 10, 2012
Samaras saw me and, to the chagrin of security, beckoned me just before the start.
Antonis Samaras: New Greek Prime Minister and Predecessor Share College Ties
Jim Warren
June 19, 2012

Historical Examples

Fouts, with a slip of paper in his hand, beckoned him from the door of his private office.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
When, five minutes later, she beckoned him from the door of the barn, her eyes were red.
K
Mary Roberts Rinehart
Young Howard beckoned to the professor from his place in the ranks.
In the Midst of Alarms
Robert Barr
One of the Stewards, following him with quick eyes, saw Mike and beckoned with a finger.
Thoroughbreds
W. A. Fraser
Her mother laid her finger on her lips, and beckoned silently.
The Little Colonel
Annie Fellows Johnston

British Dictionary definitions for beckoned

beckon

verb

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

noun

a summoning gesture

Derived Formsbeckoner, nounbeckoning, adjective, noun

Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for beckoned

beckon

v.

Old English gebecnian (West Saxon beacnian) "to make a mute sign," derivative of beacen "a sign, beacon," from Proto-Germanic *bauknjan (cf. Old Saxon boknian, Old High German bouhnen), from PIE root *bha- "to shine" (see beacon). Related: Beckoned; beckoning. The noun is attested from 1718, from the verb.

beckon

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Synonyms

Examples from the Web for beckoned

Contemporary Examples

I got up to leave and Biden, with his usual graciousness, beckoned me to stay.

She beckoned to them, gesturing as if she were going to give them a treat.

During the course of the party, Charles Monteith, one of the Faber board, beckoned me out into the hall.

Last week Emanuel was beckoned to head an existing but lagging effort.

Samaras saw me and, to the chagrin of security, beckoned me just before the start.

Historical Examples

Fouts, with a slip of paper in his hand, beckoned him from the door of his private office.

When, five minutes later, she beckoned him from the door of the barn, her eyes were red.

Young Howard beckoned to the professor from his place in the ranks.

One of the Stewards, following him with quick eyes, saw Mike and beckoned with a finger.

Her mother laid her finger on her lips, and beckoned silently.

beckon

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for beckoned

beckon

v.

Origin of beckon