definitions

beckon

[ bek-uhn ]
/ ˈbɛk ən /
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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.

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RELATED WORDS

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

Nearby words

beckham, beckley, beckmann, beckmann, max, becknell, beckon, beckwith-wiedemann syndrome, becky, beclasp, beclomethasone, becloud

Origin of beckon

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

Related forms

beck·on·er, nounbeck·on·ing·ly, adverbun·beck·oned, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for beckoning

British Dictionary definitions for beckoning

beckon

/ (ˈbɛkən) /

verb

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

noun

a summoning gesture

Derived Forms

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