beckon
verb (used with or without object)
to signal, summon, or direct by a gesture of the head or hand.
were beckoning
-
past progressiveof beckon.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
They were beckoning: Come here, come closer, stay longer, there’s so much to see.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2025
But the growls and clicks of those on the land were beckoning them with a deadly siren song.
From New York Times ● Sep. 21, 2022
There was a long standing ovation; Carryn Owens seemed overcome and gestured as if she were beckoning her husband to see what she saw.
From The New Yorker ● Mar. 1, 2017
The wizards were beckoning her with voices sweeter than song.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
They were beckoning mountains with a brown grass love.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
