summon

verb

sum·​mon ˈsə-mən 

summoned; summoning ˈsə-mə-niŋ 

ˈsəm-niŋ

transitive verb

1

: to issue a call to convene : convoke

2

: to command by service of a summons to appear in court

3

: to call upon for specified action

4

: to bid to come : send for

summon a physician

5

: to call forth : evoke

—often used with up

summonable

ˈsə-mə-nə-bəl 

adjective

summoner

ˈsə-mə-nər 

ˈsəm-nər

noun

Synonyms

• call
• hail

Choose the Right Synonym for summon

summon, call, cite, convoke, convene, muster mean to demand the presence of.

summon implies the exercise of authority.

was summoned to answer charges

call may be used less formally for summon.

called the legislature into special session

cite implies a summoning to court usually to answer a charge.

cited for drunken driving

convoke implies a summons to assemble for deliberative or legislative purposes.

convoked a Vatican council

convene is somewhat less formal than convoke.

convened the students

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

Examples of summon in a Sentence

The queen summoned him back to the palace.

without explanation, the managing editor summoned me to his office

Recent Examples on the Web

Ubers are easy to summon, as are taxis via the European app Freenow. —Tony Perrottet, Travel + Leisure, 14 Dec. 2024

In addition to executive orders, Bannon suggested that Trump should quickly summon Congress back into session. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024

Interim City Manager Tonie Quigley carried it to the center of the room, and a former city official was summoned to make the pick. —Daniel Miller, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024

And the citizens’ only hope for peace and quiet is to summon a billionaire in latex who only responds to requests ... —Christian Schneider, National Review, 12 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English somnen, somonen, from Anglo-French somondre, from Vulgar Latin *summonere, alteration of Latin summonēre to remind secretly, from sub- secretly + monēre to warn — more at sub-, mind

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing summon

• summon up

Kids Definition

summon

verb

sum·​mon ˈsəm-ən 

summoned; summoning -(ə-)niŋ 

1

: to call or send for in order to meet : convene

2

: to order to appear before a court of law

3

: to send for

summon a physician

4

: to call into being

summon up courage

summoner

-(ə-)nər 

noun

Legal Definition

summon

transitive verb

sum·​mon

: to command by service of a summons to appear in court