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 Usher said 450 potential jurors were summoned for selection. Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2025 This funds Saverino the naturalistic tonal shifts into her character’s feminist, middle-aged adult self, summoning memories and deductions about the lives of her grandmother and mother. Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025 Warner implored teammates afterward to summon a next-man-up mentality and have his back. Cam Inman, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025 In the evening, he was summoned for a nightcap with Charles and was offered a very good malt whiskey — a glass of Laphroaig. Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for summon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for summon
Verb
  • In their study, the gold extraction method uses a low-cost, harmless compound called trichloroisocyanuric acid, commonly used in water treatment.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025
  • As part of the acquisition, James Cameron, whose Avatar films call 20th Century home, will act as an executive producer.
    Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Just three minutes later, Schneider’s shot-on-goal was deflected by a Canton defender toward the strong-side post, which Handwerk gathered and finished off for the insurance goal.
    Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
  • About two dozen people gathered at the town council meeting on October 16 to voice concern and distress about drinking, bathing in or washing their clothes in the yellow, brown water as the public comment period stretched over an hour.
    Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Uncle Sam’s spending binge will remain compounding until Republicans muster the stones to take entitlements off autopilot.
    Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2025
  • When Biden threatened to let Ukraine fire ATACMs into Russia, in response to North Korean troops being deployed by Moscow, the Kremlin threatened wildfire, but in reality was not able to muster that fierce a response.
    Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Murray, in turn, was asked to be a two-way player in ways that were not necessarily originally expected for the young prospect with a deft shooting touch.
    David Aldridge, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Get people to ask hard questions about everything and not to trust anything on its face.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • On Saturday, about 50 residents and organizers convened a cleanup and dumpster day for the streets surrounding the former MACSA building, gathering litter and trash and piling it up for disposal.
    Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 13 Oct. 2025
  • At the Flow Space Women’s Health Summit on October 14 in Los Angeles, three expert doctors convened for a panel to bust myths and talk about what role GLP-1s play in the emerging science about metabolic health.
    Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • After attending the Bluebird show, Walker Hayes impulsively invited McAnally to join him on his fall tour.
    Nancy Kruh, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Towards the end of the tour, the children were invited to hold some of the snakes that reside at the zoo.
    Jack Beresford, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But the retaking plans had been hastily assembled, and turned out to be very lethal.
    Michael Collins, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Related Stories Gimple likened the storytelling possibilities to the intricate canon of stories and characters assembled by DC and Marvel in the comic book realm.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Summon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/summon. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

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