summon

verb sum·mon \ ˈsə-mən \

|Updated on: 15 Jul 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: summon in a Sentence

Definition of summon

summoned; summoning play \ˈsə-mə-niŋ, ˈsəm-niŋ\

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

play \ˈsə-mə-nə-bəl\ adjective

—

summoner

play \ˈsə-mə-nər, ˈsəm-nər\ noun

See summon defined for English-language learners

See summon defined for kids

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 of summon from the Web

Before protesters were summoned by the siren call of free weiners, some gathered at a campaign event for Tom Niermann, one of Yoder's Democratic challengers.

— edward mckinley, kansascity, "KC Health Department puts the kibosh (kielbasa?) on sausage party outside Pence event," 11 July 2018
Here’s how Sony describes it: As a spirit summoned by a young girl in a secluded boarding school, the player must prove its existence and build a unique bond with the students through clever interactions.

— nick statt, The Verge, "Dark Souls creator From Software is making a VR game called Déraciné," 12 June 2018
James Neal and Shea Theodore scored and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 23 shots for the upstart Knights, who couldn't summon their usual clutch magic in the third period, even with lengthy man advantages.

— sean meagher, OregonLive.com, "Washington Capitals even Stanley Cup Final at 1-1 with Game 2 win," 31 May 2018
James Neal and Shea Theodore scored and Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 23 shots for the upstart Knights, who couldn't summon their usual clutch magic, even with lengthy man advantages.

— CBS News, "Capitals' Braden Holtby makes "save of the year" to even Stanley Cup Final," 31 May 2018
Both men were in first-round action at Roland Garros Monday, but unlike Djokovic, who won in straight sets, Wawrinka could not summon and sustain the sort of high-level play that has carried him to major titles in Paris and elsewhere.

— howard fendrich, BostonGlobe.com, "Stan Wawrinka is ousted in first round of French Open," 28 May 2018
Both men were in first-round action at Roland Garros on Monday, but unlike Djokovic, who won in straight sets, Wawrinka could not summon and sustain the sort of high-level play that has carried him to major titles in Paris and elsewhere.

— New York Times, "Stan Wawrinka Is Out of the French Open," 28 May 2018
The right-hander was summoned by the Brewers to make his major-league debut.

— ben steele, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Freddy Peralta's Brewers debut lights up social media," 13 May 2018
This spell was used by Snape to vanish the snake summoned by Malfoy during his duel with Harry. _______ 7.

— newsweek special edition, Newsweek, "How Much do You Remember of Harry Potter's Second Year?," 9 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'summon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of summon

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

summon Synonyms

Phrases

send for;

Synonym Discussion of 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

SUMMON Defined for English Language Learners

summon

verb

Definition of summon for English Language Learners

: to order (someone) to come to a place
: to order (someone) to appear in a court of law
: to ask for (someone or something) to come : to send or call for (someone or something)