summon

verb

ˈsə-mən How to pronounce summon (audio)
Definition of summonnext
1
as in to call
to demand or request the presence or service of without explanation, the managing editor summoned me to his office

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Examples 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 In the second incident, which took place after 6 p.m., multiple officers were summoned to a section of the stadium where three allegedly unruly fans were ejected but refused to exit, the body camera video shows. —Dennis Romero, NBC News, 5 Nov. 2024 On Thanksgiving afternoon in 2021, emergency medical technician Dennis Hobson was summoned to a house in the tiny village of Farmersville, Illinois. —Paul Larosa, CBS News, 1 Nov. 2024 Graduate student Helen Lyle (Virginia Madsen) summons the urban legend boogeyman known as Candyman (Tony Todd) into existence, unleashing a torrent of pain and death against the backdrop of urban decay in a Chicago housing project. —Meagan Navarro, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024 Her rally in Houston late last month rivaled any recent sporting or musical event in my mind, summoning memories of Obama’s 2008 acceptance speech in Denver. —Philip Eliott / Detroit, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for summon 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for summon
  1. call
  2. gather
  3. muster
  4. ask
  5. convene
  6. invite
  7. assemble
Verb
  • Congress might also call on President Biden to ban TikTok under the IEEPA.
    Emily Baker-White, Forbes, 14 Feb. 2023
  • 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
Definition of call
Verb
  • OnX gathers that data and builds layers of graphics that show exactly where app users should avoid and displays it on a phone or tablet on the onX Backcountry, onX Offroad, and onX Hunt apps.
    Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
  • The rating labels schools and districts earn should be changed to be easier for the public to understand, but that should be done after research and gathering public feedback.
    Yesenia Robles, The Denver Post, 14 Nov. 2024
Definition of gather
Verb
  • Kansas City mustered just 57 rushing yards on the day.
    Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 10 Nov. 2024
  • White women in general could muster the wherewithal to obtain safe abortions, sometimes by traveling as far as Sweden for the purpose.
    Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2024
Definition of muster
Verb
  • Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder will ask President-elect Donald Trump to release him from a 20-year prison sentence, his attorney said.
    Jessie Balmert, The Enquirer, 22 Nov. 2024
  • Police said no arrests have been made and asked that anyone with information on the shootings to call 512-974-TIPS.
    Austin American-Statesman, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Definition of ask
Verb
  • The Saudi government convened some 40 countries (not including Russia) in Jeddah in August 2023 to discuss principles for ending the war.
    Michael Kimmage, Foreign Affairs, 7 Nov. 2024
  • Next week, the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change will convene the COP29 summit in Azerbaijan, where countries aim to set new climate finance targets that could help meet those Paris goals in an ever-warming world.
    Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2024
Definition of convene
Verb
  • The rock band have shared an open call on social media, inviting people to audition as Tim Alexander‘s replacement after his sudden departure.
    Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 19 Nov. 2024
  • Old Town Trolley invited several city policymakers to take rides this week to better understand how historic tours work.
    Nate Rau, Axios, 19 Nov. 2024
Definition of invite
Verb
  • At the time of writing, a working group was being assembled to manage the development of the event.
    Patty Huntington, WWD, 22 Nov. 2024
  • Once contacted, their operations team assembles within hours, prepares an estimate, and proceeds to dispatch their security personnel.
    Kyle Russell, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Definition of assemble

Thesaurus Entries Near summon

summits

summon

summoned

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Summon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/summon. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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More from Merriam-Webster on summon

Nglish: Translation of summon for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of summon for Arabic Speakers

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