noun · verb · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
UK:/ˈbɛkən/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɛkən
CMU ARPABET:B EH1 K AH0 N
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A sign made without words; a beck.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 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.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
verb
Meaning 3
To wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: ambitransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
verb
Meaning 4
To seem attractive and inviting.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: ambitransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
signal with the hands or nod
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
She waved to her friends
He waved his hand hospitably
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: wave
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: gesticulate, gesture, motion
6
verb
Meaning 6
summon with a wave, nod, or some other gesture
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: summon
7
verb
Meaning 7
appear inviting
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
The shop window decorations beckoned
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: attract, appeal
History
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.
Across languages
Translations
61 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Arabic:
أَشَارَ
(ʔašāra)
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Arabic:
أَوْمَأَ
(ʔawmaʔa)
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Azerbaijani:
əlləmək
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Azerbaijani:
əl eləmək
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Bulgarian:
кимвам
(kimvam)
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Bulgarian:
махвам
(mahvam)
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Bulgarian:
повиквам с ръка
(povikvam s rǎka)
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Czech:
pokynout
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Czech:
kývnout
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Czech:
pokývnout
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Czech:
dát znamení
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Dutch:
wenken
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Esperanto:
mansigni
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Esperanto:
algesti
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Finnish:
viittoa
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Finnish:
viittilöidä
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
French:
faire signe
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
German:
heranwinken
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
German:
herbeiwinken
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
German:
winken
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
German:
zuwinken
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Gothic:
𐌱𐌰𐌽𐌳𐍅𐌾𐌰𐌽
(bandwjan)
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Greek:
γνέφω
(gnéfo)
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Ancient Greek:
ἀποσημαίνω
(aposēmaínō)
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Hungarian:
int
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Irish:
bagair
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Italian:
accennare
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Māori:
tungatunga
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Māori:
tawhi
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Māori:
pōhiri
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Māori:
pōwhiri
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Māori:
tāwhiri
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Māori:
pōwhiriwhiri
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Māori:
pōhirihiri
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Māori:
hūkari
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Māori:
hūkarikari
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Middle English:
bekenen
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Persian:
اشارت کردن
(ešârat kardan)
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Portuguese:
acenar
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Russian:
подзыва́ть
(podzyvátʹ)
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Scottish Gaelic:
smèid
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Sicilian:
singalijari
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Sicilian:
fari scamòviri
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Spanish:
llamar con señas
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Spanish:
hacer ademanes para que se acerque
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Spanish:
deseñar
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Spanish:
hacer gestos para que venga
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Swedish:
vinka till sig
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Turkish:
el etmek
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Ukrainian:
мани́ти
(manýty)
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Ukrainian:
кива́ти
(kyváty)
— to wave or nod to somebody with the intention to make the person come closer
Czech:
lákat
— seem attractive and inviting
Czech:
vábit
— seem attractive and inviting
Czech:
zvát
— seem attractive and inviting
Esperanto:
logi
— seem attractive and inviting
German:
einladen
— seem attractive and inviting
Portuguese:
atrair
— seem attractive and inviting
Sicilian:
fari aḍḍicari
— seem attractive and inviting