beck

1 of 3

verb

ˈbek 

becked; becking; becks

transitive verb

archaic

: beckon

beck

2 of 3

noun (1)

ˈbek 

1

chiefly Scotland : bow, curtsy

2

a

: a beckoning gesture

b

: summons, bidding

beck

3 of 3

noun (2)

ˈbek 

British

: creek sense 1

Phrases

at one's beck and call

: ready to obey one's command immediately

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• bourn
• bourne
• brook
• brooklet
• burn [British]
• creek
• gill [British]
• rill
• rivulet
• run [chiefly Midland]
• runlet
• runnel
• streamlet

Examples of beck in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

One reason involved marketing: Ms. Swift, with 369 million social media followers at her beck and call, barely needs to spend anything to advertise the film. —Brooks Barnes, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2023

Of course, Fox, a mom of three herself, has professional hair stylists at her beck and call, while the mortal moms among us are stuck attempting to copy the look. —Melissa Willets, Parents, 15 Sep. 2023

My partner and Jameson’s husband were at our beck and call. —Danielle Snyder, Outside Online, 1 Oct. 2019

But after the half-year project was completed in 2016, salmon were observed in the beck within three months. —Angela Wang, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 June 2023

Moreover, the policy also asks these internet businesses to elect a grievance officer to be available at the beck and call of law enforcement officials. —Ananya Bhattacharya, Quartz, 18 Aug. 2021

The show became an obsession for many, inviting audiences into an inner sanctum of lavish settings and private planes at their beck and call — and where viperous family dynamics reigned supreme. —Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2023

Florida under the beck and call of a legless and domineering Jessica Lange in her final AHS lead role. —Allaire Nuss, EW.com, 20 July 2022

There’s nothing wrong with receiving help or donations, but living at the beck and call of others so your passion can happen is not responsible. —Rod Berger, Forbes, 21 June 2022

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Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English bekken, shortened from bekenen "to give a mute signal," with the n perhaps being taken as the infinitive ending — more at beckon

Noun (1)

Middle English becke, bekke "mute signal, signal of command, bow," noun derivative of bekken "to give a mute signal" — more at beck entry 1

Noun (2)

Middle English bek, from Old Norse bekkr; akin to Old English bæc brook, Old High German bah, Lithuanian bėgti to flee — more at phobia

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing beck

• at one's beck and call
• at someone's beck and call

• at one's beck and call
• at someone's beck and call

Kids Definition

beck

noun

ˈbek

: a beckoning gesture