summon

American  

[suhm-uhn] / ˈsʌm ən /

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.

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summon British  

/ 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)

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Related Words

See call.

Other Word Forms

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

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.

Example Sentences

He wanted to summon one last effort for his country, to play at this summer's World Cup.

From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026

The opera offers a modern twist on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, in which Diego seeks to summon his late wife on Mexico’s Day of the Dead.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

Byrne has said she has a go-to phrase -- "Patty hired 24-hour security for Katie" -- when she finds herself struggling to summon the Yankee drawl.

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

Opera’s costume shop, summon the spectacular opulence of this music-obsessed Viennese world.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

He was worried he might become one of those ghosts if they lost this war—eternally doomed to pay for his failures, assuming there was anyone left to summon him.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

Related Words

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