summon

verb sum·mon \ ˈsə-mən \

|Updated on: 17 Jun 2018

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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

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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

Right then, we were summoned into one of Metrograph’s theaters.

— lauren sanchez, Vogue, "A Séance Gone Bad: Hereditary’s New York City Premiere Was All Screams and Shouts," 6 June 2018
But when South Korean official Chung Eui-yong arrived at the White House, he was unexpectedly summoned into the Oval Office and Trump immediately agreed to meet with Kim.

— margaret hartmann, Daily Intelligencer, "North Korea Summit Ended Like It Started: With a Quick, Chaotic Call by Trump," 25 May 2018
He was summoned to face the dangerous Goldschmidt with a run in, two on and two out, and induced a grounder to second to get out of the inning.

— tom haudricourt, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Diamondbacks 2, Brewers 1: Bullpen surrenders a rare decisive run in eighth inning," 15 May 2018
These 12 jurors have been summoned to jury duty, which is mandatory as an American citizen.

— jessi virtusio, Daily Southtown, "American history goes on trial during Curtain Call Theatre's 'Twelve Angry Jurors'," 31 May 2018
Authorities had been summoned to the residence about 5 p.m. by a friend of the couple.

— georgia slater, PEOPLE.com, "'I Can't Breathe, He Stabbed Me,' Says Dying Mom-of-3 Before Husband's Arrest for Murder," 31 May 2018
Mattarella has also summoned Conte to the Quirinale, the secretary of the Presidency told journalists.

— livia borghese and judith vonberg, CNN, "Italy's populist parties agree to form government," 31 May 2018
The president, who isn’t obliged to follow the parties proposals, has summoned the speakers of both houses of Parliament to a meeting Tuesday morning to seek their views.

— giovanni legorano, WSJ, "Italy’s Coalition Parties Pick Political Novice to Lead," 21 May 2018
Violet has summoned a psychiatrist, expecting him to OK the lobotomy in exchange for her promise to subsidize his work.

— tony adler, Chicago Reader, "Raven Theatre can’t deliver on Suddenly Last Summer’s mythic, monstrous potential," 16 May 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)