beckon — to make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head to encourage someone to come nearer or follow
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head to encourage someone to come nearer or follow
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈbekən/
Example Sentences
- The delicious smell of pizza beckoned me from across the street.
- The teacher beckoned the shy student to come forward.
- My cozy bed beckoned after a long day at work.
beckon
VERB[/ˈbekən/]
to make a gesture with the hand, arm, or head to encourage someone to come nearer or follow
The doorman gently beckons the hesitant guest into the warm hotel lobby.
The keeper's beckon made them reckon - saved in just a second!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Beckon derives from Old English bēacnian, meaning 'to signal' or 'to make a sign'. It shares etymological roots with beacon, originally referring to signal lights such as beacons or lighthouses, and describes the act of summoning someone from a distance through gestures or signals.
Breakdown
bēacn- (signal, beacon) + -ian (verb suffix forming action). The root bēacn relates to beacon, a signal light, with the verbal suffix -ian indicating the action of making signals.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The delicious smell of pizza beckoned me from across the street.”
“The teacher beckoned the shy student to come forward.”
“My cozy bed beckoned after a long day at work.”
“The mysterious forest path beckoned the curious hikers.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.