beckon

verb

beck·​on ˈbe-kᵊn 

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

Synonyms

• flag
• gesture
• motion
• signal
• wave

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

Suzuka is one of the most demanding tracks on the calendar, punishing even the most minor mistakes with its high-speed corners and beckoning grass and gravel. —Luke Smith, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025

Looking around the airy entryway with its glass walls, a sparkling light fixture mimicking branches sprawled across the ceiling and a marquee awning lined with globe light bulbs beckoned viewers into the massive auditorium. —Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2025

Holly Franklin was doing it again late on a Friday morning, standing in the front yard of her Carmichael home, her African gray parrot’s cage perched beside her in the driveway, its door open in hopes of beckoning Kiki back home. —Darrell Smith, Sacramento Bee, 22 Mar. 2025

Within an hour of the city center in all directions, good golf beckons the weary traveler to relinquish the customary road rage and save one’s ire for the game that takes at least a lifetime to master and then some. —David Weiss, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for beckon

• reckon

Kids Definition

beckon

verb

beck·​on ˈbek-ən 

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