Summons Definition and Meaning
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 5, 2024
A summons is an official order to appear before a court or other legal authority. e.g., He received a summons to appear in court next month.
Table of Contents
Summons Definitions
Legal Notice: An official document ordering a person to appear in court.
The defendant was served a summons for jury duty.
Invitation: A formal or polite request to attend an event.
She accepted the summons to the gala with excitement.
Wake-up Call: A signal or message that alerts or demands attention.
The recent events serve as a summons to the community to unite.
Command Appearance: A demand to appear at a specific place and time.
The general issued a summons for all officers to attend the meeting.
Mobilization Request: A call to gather or mobilize for a purpose.
The activists sent out a summons for a peaceful protest.
Summoning of Witnesses: Calling witnesses to testify in court.
The lawyer prepared a summons for witnesses to the incident.
Call to Action: A request or order for someone to do something.
The environmental crisis is a summons for global action.
Notification of Charges: Informing someone officially of legal charges against them.
The summons detailed the charges and required court date.
Demand for Response: A request that requires an answer or action.
The letter acted as a summons for an immediate reply.
Rallying Cry: A call to come together for a cause or action.
The leader's speech was a summons to courage and perseverance.
A call by an authority to appear, come, or do something.
An order or process directing a person, especially a defendant in a case, to appear in court.
An order or process directing a person to report to court as a potential juror.
To order to appear in or report to court by means of a summons
The defendant was summonsed to the district court.
To serve with a summons.
A call to do something, especially to come.
(legal) A notice summoning someone to appear in court, as a defendant, juror or witness.
(military) A demand for surrender.
(transitive) To serve someone with a summons.
The act of summoning; a call by authority, or by the command of a superior, to appear at a place named, or to attend to some duty.
Special summonses by the king.
This summons . . . unfit either to dispute or disobey.
He sent to summon the seditious, and to offer pardon; but neither summons nor pardon was regarded.
A warning or citation to appear in court; a written notification signed by the proper officer, to be served on a person, warning him to appear in court at a day specified, to answer to the plaintiff, testify as a witness, or the like.
A demand to surrender.
To summon.
A request to be present;
They came at his bidding
An order to appear in person at a given place and time
A writ issued by authority of law; usually compels the defendant's attendance in a civil suit; failure to appear results in a default judgment against the defendant
Call in an official matter, such as to attend court
Summons Snonyms
Notification
The action of notifying someone or something.
The notification of the meeting was sent out early.
Writ
A form of written command in the name of a court or other legal authority.
A writ of habeas corpus.
Order
An authoritative command, direction, or instruction.
The judge issued an order for his arrest.
Subpoena
A writ ordering a person to attend a court.
The lawyer served a subpoena to the witness.
Call
An order or request for someone to be present.
He received a call to attend court.
Mandate
An official order or commission to do something.
The government's mandate to reduce emissions.
Command
An authoritative order.
The captain's command was immediately followed.
Citation
A summons to appear in court.
She was issued a citation for a traffic violation.
Decree
An official order issued by a legal authority.
The court's decree ended the dispute.
Directive
An official or authoritative instruction.
The directive for evacuation was given at dawn.
Summons Idioms & Phrases
Nature's summons
The instinctual pull to return to or protect the natural world.
Standing at the edge of the forest, he felt nature's summons stronger than ever.
The artist's summons
The compelling urge to create or express oneself.
Late at night, he felt the artist's summons and began to paint.
Answer the summons
To respond to a call to action or duty.
When the community faced the crisis, volunteers quickly answered the summons to help.
A moral summons
A call to uphold or act according to one's ethical beliefs.
The injustice he witnessed felt like a moral summons to speak out.
The summons of the wild
The desire or urge to experience the untamed aspects of nature.
Every spring, he felt the summons of the wild and set off on hiking expeditions.
The summons of adventure
The irresistible call to explore or embark on new experiences.
She could never ignore the summons of adventure, leading her to travel the world.
A summons to action
A call or demand to take immediate and decisive action.
The escalating crisis served as a summons to action for leaders worldwide.
A silent summons
An unspoken but deeply felt call to action or attention.
The look in her eyes was a silent summons for understanding and compassion.
The summons of duty
The obligation to fulfill one's responsibilities or roles.
He viewed his work not just as a job but as the summons of duty.
A summons to rise
A challenge to elevate oneself or to overcome adversity.
Facing discrimination, she saw it as a summons to rise and advocate for equality.
The summons of conscience
The inner voice urging one to do what is right.
He couldn't ignore the summons of conscience to confess the truth.
The summons of hunger
The basic instinct or need to seek nourishment.
After hours of work without a break, he finally heeded the summons of hunger.
The heart's summons
An emotional or heartfelt call to pursue something meaningful.
Despite the risks, she followed the heart's summons to reunite with her family.
A summons to innovate
A call to create something new or solve problems creatively.
The technological challenges of our time are a summons to innovate.
The summons of dawn
The natural pull to awaken or start anew as the day begins.
At the farm, they were all too familiar with the summons of dawn.
Summons Example Sentences
Upon receiving the summons, she immediately called her lawyer.
She feared the day she would get a jury duty summons.
The sudden storm was like a summons to seek shelter.
The magical book served as a summons to a world of adventure.
After the accident, both drivers received a summons from the police.
The royal summons to the palace filled him with both honor and anxiety.
Every morning, the sunrise acts as a natural summons to start the day.
The environmental group's summons to clean the beach was met with great enthusiasm.
His failure to respond to the summons resulted in a warrant.
The whistle is a summons for the dog to return home.
The hero felt the summons to adventure deep in his heart.
When the bell rings, it's a summons for students to enter the classroom.
The loud knock on the door was an urgent summons for attention.
The email was a summons to all employees for a mandatory meeting.
Receiving a summons for traffic violations made her rethink her driving habits.
Common Curiosities
How do we divide summons into syllables?
Summons is divided into syllables as "sum-mons."
How many syllables are in summons?
There are two syllables in "summons."
How is summons used in a sentence?
He received a summons to appear in court next month.
What is the first form of summons?
The first form, considering it as a derivative of "summon," is "summon."
What is the pronunciation of summons?
Summons is pronounced as /ˈsʌmənz/ in American English.
What is the root word of summons?
The root word of "summons" is the verb "summon."
Why is it called summons?
It is called "summons" because it originates from the Old French word "sumonse," which means a formal call or notification to appear, particularly in a court of law. It's derived from the verb "summon."
What is a stressed syllable in summons?
The first syllable, "sum," is the stressed syllable in "summons."
What is the verb form of summons?
The verb form is "to summon."
What is the singular form of summons?
The singular form is "summons."
Is summons an adverb?
No, "summons" is not an adverb.
Is summons an abstract noun?
"Summons" is a concrete noun as it refers to a physical document or a specific legal action.
Is the word summons imperative?
The word "summons" itself is not imperative; it's a noun. However, the act of issuing a summons implies a command to appear or respond.
Is the word “summons” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Summons" can serve as a direct object in a sentence, e.g., "The court issued a summons."
Which vowel is used before summons?
The use of a vowel before "summons" depends on the context of the sentence; there is no specific rule.
What is another term for summons?
Another term for "summons" is "citation."
What is the plural form of summons?
The plural form is "summonses."
Is summons a negative or positive word?
"Summons" is generally considered neutral, but it can have negative connotations depending on the context, such as being summoned for a legal issue.
What is the second form of summons?
The second form of "summon" (verb) is "summoned."
Is summons a vowel or consonant?
The word "summons" starts with a consonant "s" and contains vowels; the term itself is neither a vowel nor a consonant.
Is summons a collective noun?
No, "summons" is not typically considered a collective noun.
Is the word summons Gerund?
No, "summons" is not a gerund. The gerund form of the verb "summon" is "summoning."
Which determiner is used with summons?
Determiners such as "a," "the," or possessive pronouns can be used with "summons."
What is the third form of summons?
The third form of "summon" (verb) is also "summoned."
What part of speech is summons?
"Summons" is a noun.
Which conjunction is used with summons?
Conjunctions are not specifically used with "summons" but depend on the sentence structure, such as "and" or "but."
Which article is used with summons?
Both "a" and "the" can be used with "summons," depending on the context and specificity of the reference.
What is the opposite of summons?
The opposite could be considered "discharge" or "release" in legal contexts.
Is summons a noun or adjective?
"Summons" is a noun.
Is summons a countable noun?
Yes, "summons" is a countable noun (e.g., multiple summonses).
Is the summons term a metaphor?
"Summons" can be used metaphorically in broader contexts to imply a call to action beyond its legal meaning.
Which preposition is used with summons?
Common prepositions used with "summons" include "to" (to respond to a summons) and "for" (summons for jury duty).
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
