summon
Americanverb (used with object)
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summons,
present (3rd person singular)
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summoned,
past participle, past
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summoning
present participle
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to call upon to do something specified.
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to call for the presence of, as by command, message, or signal; call.
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to call or notify to appear at a specified place, especially before a court.
to summon a defendant.
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to authorize or order a gathering of; call together by authority, as for deliberation or action.
to summon parliament.
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to call into action; rouse; call forth (often. followed byup ).
to summon all one's courage.
verb
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to order to come; send for, esp to attend court, by issuing a summons
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to order or instruct (to do something) or call (to something)
the bell summoned them to their work
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to call upon to meet or convene
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(often foll by up) to muster or gather (one's strength, courage, etc)
Synonym Usage
See call.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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summonsimple
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summonssimple
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have summonedperfect
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has summonedperfect
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am summoningprogressive
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are summoningprogressive
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is summoningprogressive
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have been summoningperfect progressive
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has been summoningperfect progressive
Past
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summonedsimple
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had summonedperfect
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was summoningprogressive
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were summoningprogressive
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had been summoningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of summon
First recorded in 1175–1225; from Medieval Latin summonēre “to summon,” Latin: “to remind unofficially, suggest,” equivalent to sum- sum- + monēre “to remind, warn”; replacing Middle English somonen, from Old French semondre, somondre, from unattested Vulgar Latin summonere, Latin summonēre, as above
Explanation
To summon is to formally call for the presence of someone. If, as soccer team captain, you find that your team members are an hour late for the big game, you might need to summon them — and fast. Summon can also mean “gather up,” as one might summon one’s courage" before that big game. Summon is also occasionally used in reference to the supernatural, as when one tries to call forth a spirit or ghost. If you think the team needs additional help on the field, you might try to summon some supernatural backup.
Vocabulary lists containing summon
List 4
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"The Crucible" -- Vocabulary from all 4 Acts
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Unit 3: Compelling Evidence
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
So, while in Santa Monica, Calif., I didn’t hesitate to summon a Waymo for the 2-mile ride to our hotel.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026
A legislature can summon everyone a rule will touch, balance competing interests and revise the law as the evidence turns.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 19, 2026
In 2022, producer Chris Meledandri called Coffin with an idea for a movie: a Minion wants to make a monster movie, so he needs to build a monster or summon one.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
The movie has no time to mine the psychology underneath their clash, let alone summon a sniffle for the other pitiful characters who die during this escapade.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
My grip on the bladeless hilt tightens, and I summon the splendor from the earth.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
Juliet answers Jonathan’s summons to join him in questioning witnesses and potential suspects.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 19, 2026
Grandma summons Sybylla to her splendid Caddagat specifically to find a husband.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
The EA previously asked a judge to issue a summons against Wright and the others charging them with the offence.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
This includes a charge or summons, a caution, the offender dying, a penalty notice or cannabis warning being issued, a community resolution or where the offence is taken into account with other crimes.
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026
It’s late afternoon and I’m studying in the cellar when my mother summons me to the phone.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
He was being summoned because he was being sued by Midland Credit Management for $3,466.63 in defaulted credit card debt.
From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026
Miliband said he delivered the message directly to his Israeli counterpart Gideon Saar and that Israel's charge d'affaires was summoned to the foreign ministry.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
But the present and possibly future Green Lanterns were summoned there for a reason best left unsaid here, and in keeping with HBO’s extensive spoiler embargo.
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026
France has summoned the American ambassador to Paris after the diplomat, Charles Kushner, wrote a letter to French President Emmanuel Macron accusing the country of not doing enough to combat antisemitism.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
The badger looked around as if she could not possibly believe she was being summoned back, but reluctantly resumed her place in the garden beside Clare.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
A guard yelled into the common room, summoning Wilber during the early afternoon of June 26.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
His considerable height, lean frame and beard only added to the sense that, at least in spirit, Mr. Glass has succeeded in summoning the man he so clearly venerates.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
Meanwhile, when he was their age, young Giles, nicknamed Ripper, terrorized London by summoning hell spawn for fun.
From Salon ● Jun. 12, 2026
Last week, Canada said it was summoning the Israeli ambassador over the incident.
From Barron's ● May 25, 2026
It didn’t quite go with the mood of summoning the dead.
From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
