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 One morning last month during the first week of camp, Weinstein paused the pitching machine and summoned a trio of Cubs catchers to huddle around him. Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2025 That plan may preclude the Astros from summoning Smith to the major leagues for the remainder of 2025. Chandler Rome, The Athletic, 7 Mar. 2025 Pregnant Woman and Her Fiancé Dead After Being Swept Out to Sea by Wave at Calif. ‘Death Rocks’ Authorities said that deputies were summoned to Gerstle Cove for a water rescue on Sunday, March 2, around 10:41 a.m. David Chiu, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025 New York City's Eric Adams, Boston's Michelle Wu, Denver's Mike Johnson and Chicago's Brandon Johnson were all summoned to the House Oversight Committee to justify their stances on not allowing local police and other agencies to help with immigration enforcement. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 4 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for summon
Recent Examples of Synonyms for summon
Verb
  • Those in need of shelter from the cold can call 211 to check availability of beds.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2023
  • Their children’s schoolmates call the sisters the Puffling Queens.
    Cheryl Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Feb. 2023
Verb
  • The crowd of about 100 people gathered at 2200 Joe B. Rushing Road to listen to Texas Rep. Nicole Collier, who spoke with a replica P-51 Mustang behind her.
    Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Hundreds of people had gathered on a brilliant spring Sunday morning to say goodbye and catch a first glimpse of Francis, who seemed to be gasping for air.
    NICOLE WINFIELD, TIME, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Lacking cell service and power at home, Susan took a few days to muster the wherewithal and nerve to check on Maples.
    Hanna Raskin, Southern Living, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Indiana hung around throughout the fourth quarter as the Wolves couldn’t muster any stops.
    Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Ivy Nile Chad Gable hit the ring in a full suit and Michael Cole, who still believes Chad Gable was under the Lucha mask last week, asked Gable where his Lucha mask was.
    Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Johnson-Roberson says for all the incredible skills displayed by chatbots, the task they're asked to do is relatively simple — look at what a human user types and then try to predict the next words that user wants to see.
    Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Jordan is expected to convene a hearing next Tuesday.
    Deirdre Walsh, NPR, 25 Mar. 2025
  • Building on the foundation set at its inaugural meeting last month, the La Jolla Cove Access Working Group convened again this week to discuss ways to maintain public access to The Cove amid conflicts between people and sea lions there.
    Ashley Mackin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • This week, Duke Energy invited The Charlotte Observer and other media outlets to tour the hydroelectric system, showcasing enormous energy generating units and the floodgates that protect dam integrity between Mountain Island Lake and Lake Norman.
    Nora O’Neill, Charlotte Observer, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Jeffrey Goldberg, the editor-in-chief for The Atlantic, said in an article published on Monday that Waltz had mistakenly invited him to a chat with White House national security team members.
    Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The 151-foot statue was assembled in France by 1884 and presented to the U.S. minister to France that same year.
    Rachel Treisman, NPR, 18 Mar. 2025
  • This film is shaping up to be one of the biggest productions in Philippine cinema, with one of the largest casts ever assembled.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 17 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Summon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/summon. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

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