What does "summon" mean?
A creature magically summoned to do the summoner's bidding.
Summon
/ˈsʌmən/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A creature magically summoned to do the summoner's bidding.
- Grammar: summon is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: marshal, mobilize, muster, appeal.
- Useful contrasts: banishment, cow, despair.
- Usage evidence: Summon up your courage and tell the truth.
How to use "summon"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "summon" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "summon" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "summon" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "summon" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "summon" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "marshal" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "summon", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A creature magically summoned to do the summoner's bidding.
"Conjuration magic in Baldur's Gate 3 allows players to summon a variety of helpful creatures […] These summons can assist players in combat and exploration, providing strategic advantages with their unique abilities."
- 2 A fine; a fee or monetary penalty incurred for breaking the law; usually for a minor offence such as a traffic violation. Malaysia, colloquial, slang
"You better pay off the parking summon tomorrow before you kena interest on it."
- 3 call, command, order
"The deceased was 58 years of age, was the picture of health even five or six hours prior to his death, when suddenly the grim messenger came with a summon from a Higher Tribunal, calling him to duties above."
- 4 A notice of an infringement of the law, usually incurring such a penalty; a citation or ticket. Malaysia, colloquial, slang
Verb
- 1 To call people together; to convene; to convoke. transitive
"Silence is primary, summoning presence to itself; so it's a connection to the realm of origin."
- 2 To impose such a fine or penalty, or to issue a notice thereof. Malaysia, colloquial, slang, transitive
"The police summoned the driver for speeding."
- 3 make ready for action or use wordnet
- 4 To ask someone to come; to send for. transitive
"The cousins separated, and Nain Singh joined a caravan posing as a merchant. This time he crossed the border successfully. Singh eventually entered Jih-k’a-tse, the second-largest city in Tibet. It was in Jih-k’a-tse that he was summoned to meet the country’s second-highest religious authority, the Panchen Lama, who turned out to be only 11 years old."
- 5 call in an official matter, such as to attend court wordnet
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 To order (goods) and have delivered
"You can summon groceries, alcohol and medicines to your home: chips and vodka on New Year’s Eve, say, and then aspirin on New Year’s Day."
- 7 ask to come wordnet
- 8 To rouse oneself to exert a skill. transitive
"For securing the attainment of what he considered to be a most desirable end, he summoned all his abilities with a most praiseworthy energy and perseverance."
- 9 gather or bring together wordnet
- 10 To call a resource by magic. transitive
"“Why won't you teach me to summon water? I can summon fire so easily, it's only logical that I should learn to put out my mistakes.”"
- 11 cause to become available for use, either literally or figuratively wordnet
- 12 To summons; convene. transitive
Antonyms
Example
"Summon up your courage and tell the truth."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "summon"?
Common synonyms include: marshal, mobilize, muster, appeal, arouse, arraign.
How do you use "summon" in a sentence?
Summon up your courage and tell the truth.
How do you pronounce "summon"?
Pronounced /ˈsʌmən/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Anglo-Norman somoundre, from Old French sumundre, from Latin summonēre, itself from sub + monēre, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *monéyeti, causative from *men- (“to think”). Compare typologically from the same PIE root mention, Russian помина́ть (pominátʹ), упомина́ть (upominátʹ) (developed less further, keeping strong relation with по́мнить (pómnitʹ)), also compare помина́й как зва́ли (pomináj kak zváli) (<+ звать (zvatʹ)).
Etymology 2
Borrowed from Malay saman (“fine, financial penalty”), which is itself borrowed from English summons (“notice summoning someone to appear in court”). This sense re-emerged in English as summon likely due to the erroneous belief that the original singular English word summons is plural. Doublet of summons and saman.