Thesaurus results for BECKONED

beckoned

verb

past tense of beckon

as in motioned

to direct or notify by a movement or gesture beckoned the bashful child to come closer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of beckoned The low-friction surface and dry desert air are conducive to speed and have beckoned drivers since the first race there in 1914. — ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026 The Super Bowl has long beckoned the highest ad rates of any live TV programming. — Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026 The same play-offs that had proved to be the graveyard of York’s promotion hopes at the semi-final stage 12 months earlier beckoned. — Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 Royce powered his way through an avalanche powerslam as fans cheered and beckoned for LA Knight. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026 The downtown skyline glowed behind them and the City of Angels — the entertainment capital of the world — beckoned below. — Avery Stone, HollywoodReporter, 23 July 2026 Broadway's glittering lights have always beckoned aspiring thespians and avid theatergoers to New York, and the city's ever exciting theatre scene is far from simply resting on its laurels. — Madison Flager, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 July 2026 As the service nears a close, a young Black man is beckoned forward. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 6 July 2026 For most of the twentieth century, more people were leaving Italy than coming, beckoned by economic opportunities in the Americas and elsewhere. — Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 30 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for beckoned

Verb

One person told police that Rodriguez was standing on the sidewalk outside the church when Rodriguez motioned for the person to fight him – after which Rodriguez approached and started swinging fists in his direction, according to court records.

— Harry Harris, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026
Councilor Jennifer Sigette motioned to keep the city meeting open so everyone would have a chance to comment, to no avail.

— Gabriel Brito, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of motioned

Verb

Hagerty had a 90-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Colton Hatfield waved off due to a block in the back.

— Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Sep. 2026
According to Tisch, Cisneros then waved her knives and began to advance on the officers, who attempted to subdue the woman with a Taser before employing lethal force.

— Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of waved

Verb

The president gestured at Nathaniel Rai, a 10-year-old who was rescued from rough surf in Santa Cruz by lifeguard Ryder Williams, who sat across from him in the Oval Office.

— Ted Johnson, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026
After all, as Lewis-Skelly gestured to those at the Emirates, home is where the heart is.

— Art de Roché, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of gestured

Browse Nearby Words

beckon

beckoned

beckoning

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Beckoned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/beckoned. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of beckoned

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

recalcitrant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes