as in motioned
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture
beckoned the bashful child to come closer
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of beckoned
Konecny ripped off his helmet and dropped his gloves and beckoned Rust to fight him.
—
CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Syracuse began as an ancient Greek settlement nearly 3,000 years ago, and its beauty has beckoned both travelers and empires for centuries (Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, and Norman, to name a few).
—Michele Becker, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2026
After Adams received her award as a Green Goddess, Teamer beckoned her to remain near the podium for another presentation — a $1,200 check for her organization.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Next came a real-estate heiress, who, between sips of the Edith (a heady blend of vermouth, sherry, and rum), beckoned one of the guests to the club’s back room.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
As last call beckoned at the Sandbar, the crowd thinned out.
—Adam Ciralsky, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026
Last February, DeSantis and Space Florida’s CEO, Rob Long, beckoned for NASA to relocate its headquarters to the Kennedy Space Center.
—Katelyn Ferral, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
And that’s when home beckoned to him.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Recently, a regular came into the shop and shared a story about how Judy once beckoned him into the store.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Mar. 2026
CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
Syracuse began as an ancient Greek settlement nearly 3,000 years ago, and its beauty has beckoned both travelers and empires for centuries (Roman, Byzantine, Islamic, and Norman, to name a few).
—Michele Becker, Travel + Leisure, 23 Apr. 2026
After Adams received her award as a Green Goddess, Teamer beckoned her to remain near the podium for another presentation — a $1,200 check for her organization.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Next came a real-estate heiress, who, between sips of the Edith (a heady blend of vermouth, sherry, and rum), beckoned one of the guests to the club’s back room.
—Rachel Syme, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
As last call beckoned at the Sandbar, the crowd thinned out.
—Adam Ciralsky, Vanity Fair, 19 Mar. 2026
Last February, DeSantis and Space Florida’s CEO, Rob Long, beckoned for NASA to relocate its headquarters to the Kennedy Space Center.
—Katelyn Ferral, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2026
And that’s when home beckoned to him.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Recently, a regular came into the shop and shared a story about how Judy once beckoned him into the store.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for beckoned
Verb
-
Attorney Lynn Johnson stood before jurors in a Kansas City, Kansas, courtroom Tuesday afternoon and motioned to a metal device on wheels that was sitting in front of them.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Prior to closing arguments, Hunter’s other lawyer, Eben Self, motioned for an acquittal by arguing there was no evidence Green was even killed in Orange County, which Chief Circuit Judge Lisa Munyon quickly denied.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Giants third base coach Hector Borg waved Lee home, trying to take advantage of the wet conditions and a lazy throw back to the infield, but the Dodgers nabbed Lee with feet to spare.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
At his grandfather's coronation, Louis waved both hands in the air as the family watched a flypast from Buckingham Palace's balcony.—
Brendan Le,
PEOPLE,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Some gestured, comically, at their excitement at helping to reform Saudi society.—
Zach Helfand,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The inequalities of the art world are gestured to as fact.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Beckoned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beckoned. Accessed 30 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
