beckon

verb

beck·​on ˈbe-kᵊn 

beckoned; beckoning

intransitive verb

1

: to summon or signal typically with a wave or nod

My master beckons.

He … beckoned to the other generals to come and stand where he stood.

—H. E. Scudder

2

: to appear inviting : attract

the frontier beckons

transitive verb

: to beckon to

beckoned us over to their table

beckon noun

Synonyms

• motion
• wave

Examples of beckon in a Sentence

She was beckoning them in to shore.

She beckoned the waiter to come over.

She beckoned to the waiter to come over.

From the time he was a child, the wilderness beckoned to him.

The nature preserve beckons bird-watchers, who visit from around the world.

Recent Examples on the Web

Buc-ee the Beaver, the cheerful mascot in a red cap, is featured on eye-catching red and yellow billboards that beckon travelers from miles away along the interstate. —Diana Leyva, The Tennessean, 13 Aug. 2025

Originally owned by Gertie and Ernie Johnson in 1918, the riverside resort has beckoned travelers to come and stay for the adventure, the cooling water, and the great times. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 12 Aug. 2025

Cradled beneath dramatic cliffs on Mauritius’s southwestern coast, Le Morne Beach beckons with silky sands and swaying palms that cast dappled shade over slung hammocks. —Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025

But the era of human spaceflight had begun, and the stars beckoned. —Tariq Malik, Space.com, 30 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English bekenen, bikenen, becknien, becknyn, going back to Old English bēcnan, bīcnan, bīcnian, bēacnian "to make a mute gesture to, summon, symbolize, portend, reveal," going back to West Germanic *bauhnjan- or *bauhnōjan- (whence also Old Saxon bōknian "to portend, give as a token," Old High German bouhhanen, bouhnen "to give a sign or token, signify"), weak verb derivatives of *baukn- "sign, signal" — more at beacon entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for beckon

• reckon

Kids Definition

beckon

verb

beck·​on ˈbek-ən 

beckoned; beckoning

ˈbek- (ə-)niŋ

1

: to call or signal to a person usually by a wave or nod

they beckoned us to come over

2

: to appear inviting

new adventures were beckoning