What does beckon mean?
Word: Beckon
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: Beckon means to give someone a sign with your hand or head, asking them to come nearer.
How do you spell beckon?
Syllables: beck - on
Tricky part: The ending is weak when spoken, so it may be written en or an. It is on.
Watch out for: beckan, becken, beckin
Memory tip: When you call a friend over you say 'come on', and the word ends in that same on.
Beckon in a sentence
Example 1: The guide beckoned us towards the narrow steps.
Example 2: From across the room my aunt beckoned me over to meet her friends.
Example 3: A smell of fresh jalebis beckoned from the end of the lane.
Fun Fact
The word is an old cousin of beacon. Both go back to an Old English idea of a sign, whether made by a raised hand or a light on a hill.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. beckon 2. vociferus 3. frugle 4. lucrotive
a) careful about spending money
b) to wave a person closer
c) loudly stating your opinions
d) bringing in a lot of money
Show answer
b) to wave a person closer. Vociferous, lucrative and frugal are the proper spellings, so the word left standing is beckon.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word beckon as used in the sentence:
Mrs Das looked up from her desk and began to beckon the next pupil forward.
a) scold
b) follow
c) signal
d) praise
Show answer
c) signal. She used her hand to send a message, so she signalled.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the word in the sentence and choose it:
Our captain raised one hand to ocknbe us back to the pavilion.
a) beckon
b) broken
c) reckon
d) beacon
Show answer
a) beckon. The letters include a b and a k but no a or r.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct pair of letters to form a word:
b_c_on
a) e,k
b) i,k
c) e,c
d) a,k
Show answer
a) e,k. The short e of bed comes first, and the second gap takes the letter that pairs with c to make one hard sound.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. A person at the far side of a noisy hall wants you to join them. What are they most likely to do?
a) turn away and fold their arms
b) put a hand over their ears
c) bow their head and close their eyes
d) curl a finger towards themselves
Show answer
d) curl a finger towards themselves
2. What does this sentence suggest? 'The cool blue pool beckoned after the long, hot walk.'
a) The pool had a strong smell
b) The pool looked very inviting
c) The pool was closed for the day
d) The pool was too cold to enter
Show answer
b) The pool looked very inviting
