beckon

Meaning

Verb

1. (ambitransitive) To wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer.
2. (ambitransitive) To seem attractive and inviting.

Noun

1. A sign made without words; a beck.
2. A children's game similar to hide and seek in which children who have been "caught" may escape if they see another hider beckon to them.

Synonyms

wave

👋

invite

call

signal

summon

sign

lure

allure

entice

nod

gesture

send for

ask

cajole

motion

indicate

attract

go under

greet

hail

induce

induct

influence

inveigle

lead

page

please

pull in

receive

refer

rope in

shake

🫨

swing

tease

tempt

wag

wiggle

wink

😉

winnow

call over

make a sign

wave to

make sign with hands

tap a toofull cooking pot

summon by gesture of the hand

make a signal

such as a wink

accost

suggest by a mute sign

announce

Translations

γνέφω

accennare

winken

👋

acenar

herbeiwinken

heranwinken

wenken

llamar

invitare

işaret etmek

γνέψιμο

Zeichen geben

νεύω

faire signe

zuwinken

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈbɛkən/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: bekenen

Inherited from Old English: bēacnian

Cognate with Old Saxon: bōknian

Cognate with Old High German: bouhnen

Cognate with Old Norse: bákna

In summary

From Middle English bekenen, beknen, becnen, beknien, from Old English bēacnian, bēcnian, bīecnan (“to signal; beckon”), from Proto-West Germanic *bauknōn, *bauknijan (“to signal”), from *baukn (“signal; beacon”). Cognate with Old Saxon bōknian, Old High German bouhnen, Old Norse bákna. More at beacon.