summon

verb

sum·​mon ˈsə-mən How to pronounce summon (audio)
summoned; summoning ˈsə-mə-niŋ How to pronounce summon (audio)
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 adjective
summoner
ˈsə-mə-nər How to pronounce summon (audio)
ˈsəm-nər
noun
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 Then she was summoned to a meeting with Jon Favreau. Seth Abramovitch, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Mar. 2024 Supported only by a keyboardist called Colin Chambers, Bey summoned ghosts of soul-jazz past, often evoking Nina Simone; when her accompanist switched to the electric funk of a Fender Rhodes tone, her similarities to Roberta Flack were accentuated. Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2024 When Purdy went down with a nerve stinger in his left shoulder Dec. 17 at Arizona, Darnold was summoned for a three-snap cameo before Purdy returned to throw a touchdown in that division-clinching win. Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 12 Mar. 2024 Then the coroner, a royal official, would summon a jury of between a dozen and fifty men, from the four local parishes, to try to figure out what had happened. Sam Knight, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2024 The parents were summoned to the counselor's office for a meeting, and left to return to their jobs, promising to get their son help within 48 hours. Gina Kaufman, Detroit Free Press, 8 Mar. 2024 The dragon balls, when collected, can summon Shen Long, a divine dragon that can grant any wish. Mai Nishiyama, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 The sophomore's grandmother and guardian, Sue Benedict, has said that Nex was being bullied before the altercation, and has criticized administrators at Owasso High School for not summoning police or an ambulance immediately after. Molly Hennessy-Fiske The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 3 Mar. 2024 Her most recent delusion — a mold infestation Elena insists is destroying her health — spurs her to summon a disgraced military officer, Corporal Herbert Zuback (Matthias Schoenaerts) to the palace to serve as her new moisture-measurer. Lili Loofbourow, Washington Post, 2 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'summon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of summon was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near summon

Cite this Entry

“Summon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/summon. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

summon

verb
sum·​mon ˈsəm-ən How to pronounce summon (audio)
summoned; summoning -(ə-)niŋ How to pronounce summon (audio)
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 noun

Legal Definition

summon

transitive verb
sum·​mon
: to command by service of a summons to appear in court

More from Merriam-Webster on summon

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