beckon
pronunciation
How to pronounce beckon in British English:
UK [ˈbekən]
How to pronounce beckon in American English:
US [ˈbekən]
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- Verb:
- signal with the hands or nod
- appear inviting
- summon with a wave, nod, or some other gesture
Word Origin
- beckon
- beckon: see beacon
- beckon (v.)
- Old English gebecnian (West Saxon beacnian) "to make a mute sign," derivative of beacen "a sign, beacon," from Proto-Germanic *bauknjan (cognates: Old Saxon boknian, Old High German bouhnen), from PIE root *bha- (1) "to shine" (see beacon). Related: Beckoned; beckoning. The noun is attested from 1718, from the verb.
Example
- 1. Again , disappointment and a referendum beckon .
- 2. Other opportunities beckon , however , such as india .
- 3. Mr colander 's analogy does not imply that economists are getting nowhere : they can make progress up their chosen peak , even if other , higher mountains beckon .
- 4. But just as the prospect of normality seemed at last to beckon , baghdad was shaken by one of the year 's bloodiest bunch of bombings .
- 5. And with each new surcharge and each new item of clothing one is required to remove to board an airplane - and with every small-town commercial airport and cabin amenity that vanishes forever - the rails beckon .