# beckon

> English word · Verb · IPA /ˈbɛkən/ · frequency rank #59,887

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

## Etymology
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.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/beckon