summon

[suhm-uhn]

verb (used with object)

1. to call upon to do something specified.

2. to call for the presence of, as by command, message, or signal; call.

3. to call or notify to appear at a specified place, especially before a court.

   to summon a defendant.

4. to authorize or order a gathering of; call together by authority, as for deliberation or action.

   to summon parliament.

5. to call into action; rouse; call forth (often. followed byup ).

   to summon all one's courage.

summon

/ ˈsʌmən /

verb

1. to order to come; send for, esp to attend court, by issuing a summons

2. to order or instruct (to do something) or call (to something)

   the bell summoned them to their work

3. to call upon to meet or convene

4. (often foll by up) to muster or gather (one's strength, courage, etc)

Other Word Forms

• summonable adjective
• summoner noun
• resummon verb (used with object)
• unsummonable adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of summon¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of summon¹

C13: from Latin summonēre to give a discreet reminder, from monēre to advise

Synonym Study

See call.

Example Sentences

Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Wednesday said Spain would investigate Meta for allegedly violating millions of users' privacy, summoning the company to answer before parliament.

Read more on Barron's

China has already summoned Tokyo's ambassador and advised its citizens against travel to Japan after the clash over Takaichi's comments.

Read more on Barron's

There at night, a cluster of municipal officials and workers would wait for the trucks, summoned by military intelligence officers to bury the bodies.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

I just look in the direction of the akrafena and summon it back to me.

Read more on Literature

It was at that moment Penelope turned and saw the woman herself, as if her very words had summoned her.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• ask 
• assemble 
• call 
• call for 
• call in 
• convene 
• direct 
• draft 
• gather 
• invite 
• mobilize 
• recall 
• request 
• subpoena