Dictionary.com

beckon

[ bek-uhn ]
/ ˈbɛk ən /
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.

QUIZZES

LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

Are you learning Spanish? Or do you just have an interest in foreign languages? Either way, this quiz on Spanish words for animals is for you.
Question 1 of 13
How do you say “cat” 🐈 in Spanish?
gato/gata
cato/cata
gatto/gatta
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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. 2021

Words related to beckon

attract, invite, entice, tempt, pull, draw, coax, nod, wave, summon, motion, allure, command, demand, ask, gesticulate, sign, bid, gesture

Example sentences from the Web for beckon

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