summon

verb

sum·​mon ˈsə-mən How to pronounce summon (audio)
summoned; summoning ˈsə-mə-niŋ How to pronounce summon (audio)
ˈsəm-niŋ
Synonyms of summonnext

transitive verb

1
: to issue a call to convene : convoke
2
: to command by service of a summons to appear in court
3
: to call upon for specified action
4
: to bid to come : send for
summon a physician
5
: to call forth : evoke
—often used with up
summonable
ˈsə-mə-nə-bəl How to pronounce summon (audio)
adjective
summoner
ˈsə-mə-nər How to pronounce summon (audio)
ˈsəm-nər
noun

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for summon

summon, call, cite, convoke, convene, muster mean to demand the presence of.

summon implies the exercise of authority.

was summoned to answer charges

call may be used less formally for summon.

called the legislature into special session

cite implies a summoning to court usually to answer a charge.

cited for drunken driving

convoke implies a summons to assemble for deliberative or legislative purposes.

convoked a Vatican council

convene is somewhat less formal than convoke.

convened the students

muster suggests a calling up of a number of things that form a group in order that they may be exhibited, displayed, or utilized as a whole.

mustered the troops

Examples of summon in a Sentence

The queen summoned him back to the palace. without explanation, the managing editor summoned me to his office
Recent Examples on the Web The cartel leaders summoned Garcia to a wooded area, along with another man and a married couple, believed to be Garcia's relatives. —Beth Warren, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024 Then a wealthy shipbuilder, Mr. Greenleaf (Kenneth Lonergan), father of an acquaintance of Ripley’s, summons him with a proposition. —Tom Gliatto, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024 The bowl’s hemisphere can summon to mind the 18th-century French architect Étienne-Louis Boullée’s famous unbuilt monument to Newton, a textbook example of Enlightenment idealism. —Michael Kimmelman Clement Pascal, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024 Over the course of 27 tracks, Beyoncé summons a small pantheon of country legend co-signers (Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Linda Martell) and grants what amounts to tidal force to a new wave of Black country talents (including Tiera Kennedy, Tanner Adell and Brittney Spencer). —Michael Andor Brodeur, Washington Post, 1 Apr. 2024 James has summoned Sashin on 14 occasions this season, drawing on the pitcher’s experience and calm under pressure. —Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2024 One day, Wilson summoned Vail to meet with him, but wouldn’t say why. —Joe Rubin, Sacramento Bee, 27 Mar. 2024 This was crucial in summoning the eclectic, mercurial personality of Bartók’s farewell essays in the medium. —Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2024 The Foreign Office summoned China’s ambassador for a diplomatic dressing down. —Mark Landler, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'summon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English somnen, somonen, from Anglo-French somondre, from Vulgar Latin *summonere, alteration of Latin summonēre to remind secretly, from sub- secretly + monēre to warn — more at sub-, mind

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of summon was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing summon

Dictionary Entries Near summon

summit yard

summon

summons

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Summon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/summon. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

summon

verb
sum·​mon ˈsəm-ən How to pronounce summon (audio)
summoned; summoning -(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce summon (audio)
1
: to call or send for in order to meet : convene
2
: to order to appear before a court of law
3
: to send for
summon a physician
4
: to call into being
summon up courage
summoner
-(ə-)nər How to pronounce summon (audio)
noun

Legal Definition

summon

transitive verb
sum·​mon
: to command by service of a summons to appear in court

More from Merriam-Webster on summon

Nglish: Translation of summon for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of summon for Arabic Speakers

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