WordValesummon
to call to appear or act
In more detail
1. (verb) to order someone to appear or come somewhere, especially officially
2. (verb) to gather or bring up (courage, strength, energy, etc.) from within yourself
3. (verb) to call upon a spirit or ghost to appear
Examples
- 1. The witness was summoned to appear in court.
- 2. She summoned the courage to speak up in the meeting.
- 3. The magician summoned spirits during the ritual.
How to use summon
Summon is a formal verb used when someone in authority orders another to appear, especially in legal or official contexts. It can also mean to gather inner resources like courage or strength, often used metaphorically. The third sense (calling spirits) is more literary or archaic. Unlike request, summon implies obligation or compulsion rather than a polite asking.
Common phrases
- summon courage
- summon the nerve
- summon a witness
- summon help
- summon one's strength
Synonyms
call · order · command · muster · invoke
Opposites
dismiss · disperse
Word family
summons (noun) · summoned (adjective) · summoning (noun)
A common mistake
Learners sometimes confuse summon with summit (the peak of a mountain) or use it too informally when a simpler verb like call or ask would be more natural in everyday speech.
Save this word in WordVale and it comes back for review right before you'd forget it — with pronunciation, real examples, and optional translations. One purchase, no subscription.
Get WordValeFREE 7-DAY TRIAL · iPHONE & iPAD