verb

beckon

BEH-kuhn

verb

To signal someone, usually with the hand or a nod, to come closer.

"The waiter beckoned us over to an empty table."

"She beckoned to her friend across the crowded room."

To seem inviting or attractive; to draw someone in.

"After months of work, a well-earned holiday was beckoning."

How to Use Beckon

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo wave or nod at someone to get them to come over, or (more figuratively) to seem tempting.

Common pairings

beckon someone over beckon to someone adventure beckons

beckoned past tense, beckons plural, beckons singular

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The waiter _____ us over to an empty table.

From Old English bēacnian, "to signal," related to "beacon" — both come from a Germanic root meaning "sign" or "signal."

reckon