beckon

verb

beck·​on ˈbe-kᵊn How to pronounce beckon (audio)
beckoned; beckoning

intransitive verb

1
: to summon or signal typically with a wave or nod
My master beckons.
He … beckoned to the other generals to come and stand where he stood.H. E. Scudder
2
: to appear inviting : attract
the frontier beckons

transitive verb

: to beckon to
beckoned us over to their table
beckon noun

Examples of beckon in a Sentence

She was beckoning them in to shore. She beckoned the waiter to come over. She beckoned to the waiter to come over. From the time he was a child, the wilderness beckoned to him. The nature preserve beckons bird-watchers, who visit from around the world.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
But Davis knew the NFL would beckon Johnson back soon. Adam Jahns, New York Times, 2 June 2025 Another Stanley Cup Final awaited, another championship beckoned, and the Florida Panthers general manager stood on the third floor of the team’s hotel, celebrating the previous night’s clinching win against Carolina by not celebrating it one bit. Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 30 May 2025 But what the restaurant has become most famous for is its maneki-neko figurines, otherwise known as a beckoning cat, which has become a mascot for the restaurant. Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 24 May 2025 Game 1, fifth inning: Mookie Betts walks in his third at-bat of the game, steals second base on the third pitch to Corey Seager … and then beckons the opposing shortstop, Willy Adames, and gives him a hug. Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for beckon

Word History

Etymology

Middle English bekenen, bikenen, becknien, becknyn, going back to Old English bēcnan, bīcnan, bīcnian, bēacnian "to make a mute gesture to, summon, symbolize, portend, reveal," going back to West Germanic *bauhnjan- or *bauhnōjan- (whence also Old Saxon bōknian "to portend, give as a token," Old High German bouhhanen, bouhnen "to give a sign or token, signify"), weak verb derivatives of *baukn- "sign, signal" — more at beacon entry 1

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of beckon was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beckon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beckon. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

beckon

verb
beck·​on ˈbek-ən How to pronounce beckon (audio)
beckoned; beckoning
ˈbek- (ə-)niŋ
1
: to call or signal to a person usually by a wave or nod
they beckoned us to come over
2
: to appear inviting
new adventures were beckoning

More from Merriam-Webster on beckon

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