1
2
as in to gather
to call into being through the use of one's inner resources or powers managed to summon a bright smile despite the gloomy day

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in to muster
to bring together in assembly by or as if by command summoned a special session of parliament

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word summon different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of summon are call, cite, convene, convoke, and muster. While all these words mean "to demand the presence of," summon implies the exercise of authority.

was summoned to answer charges

How are the words call and summon related?

Call may be used less formally for summon.

called the legislature into special session

When can cite be used instead of summon?

In some situations, the words cite and summon are roughly equivalent. However, cite implies a summoning to court usually to answer a charge.

cited for drunken driving

How do convene and convoke relate to one another, in the sense of summon?

Convene is somewhat less formal than convoke.

convened the students

When is convoke a more appropriate choice than summon?

The words convoke and summon can be used in similar contexts, but convoke implies a summons to assemble for deliberative or legislative purposes.

convoked a Vatican council

When might muster be a better fit than summon?

Although the words muster and summon have much in common, 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

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 summon And that summoned bitter echoes of past humiliation that still resonate in the Iranian psyche today – and affect decisions to be flexible, or to dig in. Scott Peterson, Christian Science Monitor, 23 June 2025 In the eighth, Ohtani hit his 26th homer of the season, and position player Kiké Hernandez was summoned to pitch the ninth with the Dodgers leading 13-3. Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 22 June 2025 Historically, most performers have developed their art by being taken under the wings of friends as part of drag families or drag houses, or by practicing at home and summoning the courage to sign up for open sets at bars. David MacK, Rolling Stone, 22 June 2025 The Angels summoned Moore, a second baseman, on June 13 in Baltimore. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 21 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for summon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for summon
Verb
  • However, today most young people rarely call each other.
    Andrea Wigfield, CNN, 14 Feb. 2023
  • Marx himself would call DEI a classic case of ideology, a set of benign-seeming ideas that disguise the workings of the rulers, in this case empowered progressives.
    WSJ, WSJ, 14 Feb. 2023
Verb
  • Pam’s family and friends gathered in the courthouse in Broomfield, Colorado, just outside Boulder in April of 2019.
    Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 27 June 2025
  • However, runoff from these earlier heavy rain will gather in streams and other low-lying areas and is expected to prompt flash flooding.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Lian thought Wenyu might be scared, but Wenyu seemed preoccupied with the trivial things—tampons, rain—and Lian couldn’t muster up the nerve to ask.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2025
  • Government agents muster nearby before an immigration sting at Corso's Flower and Garden Center, Tuesday, June 5, 2018, in Castalia, Ohio.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • This approach allows for subtle control over speech rhythm and tone, giving the user the ability to interrupt, emphasize, or ask questions just as anyone else would.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2025
  • After discussing the options with attorneys for both sides, Judge Arun Subramanian asked the jury to keep deliberating on the remaining charge, which is what prosecutors and defense attorneys asked for. Court then ended for the day.
    July 1, CBS News, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, whose district includes coastal communities impacted by the Palisades fire, convened a blue ribbon commission to provide recommendations on how to rebuild with challenges posed by climate change in mind.
    Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2025
  • Three-hundred reporters from across the country convened at the Somerville County Courthouse for the start of the trial on Nov. 3, 1926.
    Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 27 June 2025
Verb
  • Impressed by his talent, Eva mentors him and even invites him to live with them.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 30 June 2025
  • At present, only those explicitly invited, many of whom are a select group of superfans with large followings in the Tesla community, may hail one of his robotaxis.
    Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Gingrich called on members to assemble in the well of the House of Representatives in an executive session.
    Time, Time, 1 July 2025
  • This starts with senior leaders establishing a cohesive business-technology plan, and assembling the right team to manage the changes.
    Wolfgang Sixl, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Summon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/summon. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on summon

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!