verb
Uncommon
summon
SUH-muhn
Summon (verb) means to officially call people to come together or appear somewhere. Example: “The king summoned his advisors to the throne room.”
verb
1
To officially call people to come together or appear somewhere.
"The king summoned his advisors to the throne room."
"She was summoned to court as a witness."
2
To gather up an inner quality like courage or strength before acting.
"He summoned the courage to ask for a raise."
3
To call forth a creature or force using magic, especially in fiction and games.
"The wizard summoned a fire demon to guard the tower."
How to use summon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo formally call someone (or something, magically) to appear.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
summon courage
summon a witness
summoned to appear
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Word forms
- Plural
- summons
- Third person singular
- summons
- Past tense
- summoned
- Archaic forms
- summonest, summonedst, summoneth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The king _____ his advisors to the throne room.
Etymology
From Old French sumundre, going back to Latin summonēre ("to remind secretly"), from sub- + monēre ("to warn").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “summon” mean?
The word “summon” means to officially call people to come together or appear somewhere. In plain terms, to formally call someone (or something, magically) to appear.
How do you pronounce “summon”?
“Summon” is pronounced SUH-muhn (/ˈsʌmən/ in IPA).
How do you use “summon” in a sentence?
Here is “summon” used in a sentence: “The king summoned his advisors to the throne room.”
What part of speech is “summon”?
“Summon” is a verb.
Where does the word “summon” come from?
The word “summon” comes from Latin. From Old French sumundre, going back to Latin summonēre ("to remind secretly"), from sub- + monēre ("to warn").
Is “summon” a common word?
“Summon” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “summon” have?
“Summon” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to officially call people to come together or appear somewhere.
What is the difference between "summon" and "invite"?
"Summon" implies an official or authoritative call for someone to appear, often carrying a sense of obligation, while "invite" is a friendly request the person is free to decline. You summon someone to court, but you invite someone to a party.
How is "summon" used with qualities like courage?
When used with an inner quality such as courage or strength, "summon" means to gather up that quality before acting, as in "she summoned the courage to speak."
What does "summon" mean in fantasy games and fiction?
In fantasy contexts, "summon" means to call forth a creature or force using magic, such as summoning a spirit or monster.
What is the difference between "summon" and "conjure"?
"Summon" generally means to call someone or something to appear, whether a person, feeling, or magical being, while "conjure" specifically emphasizes bringing something into existence through magic, often implying it appears suddenly.
