summons 1 of 2

Definition of summonsnext
as in warrant
a written notice ordering a person to appear in court if you ignore a court summons, you will be fined

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summons

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of summon
1
2
as in gathers
to call into being through the use of one's inner resources or powers managed to summon a bright smile despite the gloomy day

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3
as in musters
to bring together in assembly by or as if by command summoned a special session of parliament

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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 summons
Noun
This year, summonses will be sent to all types of buildings. Clio Chang, Curbed, 21 Jan. 2026 Each of the drivers received citations and criminal summonses, including for unregistered and uninsured motor vehicles. Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
Sometimes the end almost reframes and summons everything that was going on at the beginning. Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2025 Thrown into crisis, King Gwanghae summons Heo Gyun based on clues left behind and questions him about Hong Gildong’s identity. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for summons
Recent Examples of Synonyms for summons
Noun
  • After the crash, Evans continued to drive, got out of the sedan and ran toward a Motel 6, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.
    Emerson Clarridge Updated March 27, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Deputies took Johnson into custody several days later on a warrant for an unrelated charge.
    Christa Swanson, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Although embedded in spectacle culture, these events occasionally presented the possibility of truly poetic clashes between languages and artistic traditions—what Glissant calls an éclat, collisions that create sparks of novelty.
    Daniel Birnbaum, Artforum, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The plan also calls for $31 million in additional spending for public education that would block cuts to magnet schools that could have led to tuition increases for the sending towns and potential cuts in health care for students in private schools.
    Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In the closing scene, Rachel gathers her belongings, removes her wedding dress and exits the cabin.
    Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Created in 2015 by Pierre-Antoine Capton, Xavier Niel, and Matthieu Pigasse, Mediawan group currently gathers more than 80 production labels operating in 13 countries.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In a typical election year, the interest in the down-ballot race for California insurance commissioner musters modest interest at best.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2026
  • The king’s brother has other plans, leading to a dark time in the Pride Lands until Simba musters the courage to reclaim his rightful throne.
    Myrna Petlicki, Chicago Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Aaron said that incorporating a method of moderation or verification—such as the voting system in Waze—would have required collecting user data that might someday fall under a subpoena.
    Oriana van Praag, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2026
  • In Massachusetts, Foley will have the power of subpoena to root out fraud in state agencies.
    Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • YourShot Earth Month Challenge The Earth Month edition of the YourShot Challenge invites the global photography community to capture images that reflect the wonder of the natural world.
    Denise Petski, Deadline, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Perfection alienates; wrongness invites.
    Andrey Mir, Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The group assembles in a staggered formation and uses hand signals to communicate road hazards and turns.
    Brenda Miranda, Miami Herald, 25 Mar. 2026
  • The track assembles into a classic floor-filler.
    Jesse Dorris, Pitchfork, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The estate’s representative obtained a writ of garnishment on March 2 to collect on the judgment from Gottlieb’s bank account.
    Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2026
  • Alongside the figures, IFPI focused on several important narratives, perhaps none as existential as artificial intelligence’s impact on the industry (and humanity writ large).
    Andrew Flanagan, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Summons.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/summons. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

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