summon

verb

sum·mon | \ ˈsə-mən

summoned; summoning\ ˈsə-mə-niŋ

, ˈsəm-niŋ \

Definition of summon

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

Other Words from summon Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about summon

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Other Words from summon

summonable \ ˈsə-mə-nə-bəl

\ adjective

summoner \ ˈsə-mə-nər

, ˈsəm-nər \ noun

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

Araoz said she's finally summoned the strength to speak out now to help prevent other young girls from falling into the clutches of predatory men. — NBC News, "New Jeffrey Epstein accuser: He raped me when I was 15," 10 July 2019 The play is a work that mercilessly tests each actor’s ability to inhabit roles that are not characters but beings, summoned by an authorial process that can only be conceived as an occult attempt to restore speech to the dead. — Adina Hoffman, The New York Review of Books, "Geoffrey O’Brien," 18 Apr. 2019 The president summoned her for more meetings at the statehouse. — New York Times, "A Beauty Queen Accuses Former Gambian President of Rape: ‘I Literally Stumbled Out of There’," 25 June 2019 Years ago, Tom Hoving told me he was summoned every few weeks to visit Metropolitan Museum of Art trustee and mega donor Irwin Untermyer to trim his toenails. — Brian T. Allen, National Review, "Museum Happenings: Protesters Stage a Die-In in NYC, and Students Accuse Staff of Racism in Boston," 25 June 2019 After confirming the direct hit on a video feed, the drone’s controllers summoned it back to the desert floor, where biologist Tim Shields gave an approving nod. — Louis Sahagun, latimes.com, "These tortoise-killing ravens are so smart, scientists must use drones to stop them," 9 June 2019 After he was summoned back to Pyongyang as his father Kim Jong Il’s health deteriorated, Kim Jong Un’s private life became hazier. — Washington Post, "Inside the hidden life of Kim Jong Un," 14 June 2019 That’s because Peterson has appeared in court every time he was summoned and was a longtime resident of the community. — Andrew Boryga, sun-sentinel.com, "Ex-school deputy Scot Peterson walks out of jail after judge reduces bond," 6 June 2019 Captain Marvel peaces out to fight crime on other planets, even though Nick Fury used his dying breath to summon her to earth. — Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, "Let’s Talk About What That Girl Power Moment in Avengers: Endgame Means," 29 Apr. 2019

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.

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Last Updated

15 Jul 2019

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Time Traveler for summon

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

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More Definitions for summon

summon

verb

English Language Learners Definition of summon

formal

: 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)

See the full definition for summon in the English Language Learners Dictionary

summon

verb

sum·mon | \ ˈsə-mən

summoned; summoning

Kids Definition of summon

1 : to call or send for : convene The clerk … summoned a bellboy and handed him a key. “Take this gentleman to his room!”— E. B. White, The Trumpet of the Swan

2 : to order to appear before a court of law

3 : to call into being : arouse She tried to summon up courage.