summons
gb/sˈʌmənz/ us/sˈʌmənz/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
legal
C1
entity
1
Legal order to appear
An official legal document that tells someone they must go to court or respond to a case.
Usage pattern:
a summons to [court]; a summons for [someone]; issue/serve/receive a summons
Common mistake:
Summons is a singular noun even though it ends in -s: say a summons, not a summon. The plural is summonses.
Synonyms
subpoena (often specifically orders someone to testify or produce evidence)
|
citation (a legal notice, especially in some legal systems or for minor offenses)
|
notice (broader and less specifically a court order)
Collocations
court summons
|legal summons
|issue a summons
|serve a summons
|receive a summons
|answer a summons
|ignore a summons
|summons to appear
|jury summons
|witness summons
Themes
law
|courts
|documents
|legal_process
Examples
- She received a summons to appear in court next month.
- The company was served with a summons after the lawsuit was filed.
- Ignoring a court summons can lead to fines or other penalties.
Learner examples
- I got a summons from the court.
- You must not ignore a summons.
Noun
formal
C1
action
2
Formal call to attend
A formal call or request telling someone to come somewhere.
Usage pattern:
a summons from [someone]; a summons to [place/event]
Common mistake:
In everyday speech, call, request, or invitation is usually more natural than summons.
Synonyms
call (more general and more common in everyday speech)
|
request (less forceful and not necessarily from authority)
|
order (stronger and more direct)
Antonyms
dismissal (an act of sending someone away rather than calling them in)
Collocations
urgent summons
|sudden summons
|official summons
|receive a summons
|obey a summons
|respond to a summons
|summons from the boss
|summons to a meeting
|royal summons
Themes
communication
|authority
|workplace
Examples
- The mayor's sudden summons brought department heads back to city hall.
- He treated the email as a summons to an emergency meeting.
- The children reluctantly answered their grandmother's summons from the kitchen.
Learner examples
- I received a summons from my boss.
- The teacher's summons brought the students back inside.
Verb
legal
C1
action
3
Order by legal summons
To officially order someone to go to court by sending them a summons.
Usage pattern:
[someone] summonses [someone] to [court]; [someone] is summonsed for [an offense]
Common mistake:
Do not confuse this legal verb with summon. In ordinary uses, say summon help or summon courage, not summons help or summons courage.
Synonyms
cite (legally require someone to appear or respond, often in formal or official contexts)
|
subpoena (usually requires someone to testify or produce evidence)
|
serve (means officially deliver legal papers, often a summons)
Collocations
summons someone to court
|be summonsed to court
|be summonsed to appear
|be summonsed for speeding
|summonsed before the magistrates
|summons a defendant
Themes
law
|courts
|legal_process
Examples
- He was summonsed to appear before the magistrates.
- Police summonsed the driver for driving without insurance.
- The court can summons witnesses if they refuse to attend voluntarily.
Learner examples
- She was summonsed to court.
- He was summonsed for speeding.
Grammar
Dictionary form
summons
IPA
GB/sˈʌmənz/
US/sˈʌmənz/
Syllables & stress
sum - mons (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sum)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: summons
- Plural: summonses
Expressions
answer a summons
1/ˈænsɚ ə sˈʌmənz/
fixed phrase
legal
Respond to legal order
To do what a summons requires, such as going to court or replying to a legal case.
Examples
- The defendant failed to answer the summons by the deadline.
- She answered the summons by appearing in court with her lawyer.
- If you do not answer a summons, the court may enter a default judgment.
at someone's summons
1/ˈæt sˈʌmwˌʌnz sˈʌmənz/
fixed phrase
formal
When someone calls
Because someone has formally called you or told you to come.
Examples
- At the governor's summons, officials returned to the capital for emergency talks.
- They gathered in the conference room at the CEO's summons.
- At her father's summons, Clara joined the guests in the library.
jury summons
1/d͡ʒˈʊɹi sˈʌmənz/
fixed phrase
legal
Notice for jury service
A letter or notice saying you may have to serve on a jury.
Examples
- I got a jury summons in the mail for next month.
- The jury summons explained how to request a postponement.
- Ignoring a jury summons can result in penalties.
serve someone with a summons
1/sˈɚv sˈʌmwˌʌn wˈɪθ ə sˈʌmənz/
fixed phrase
legal
Legally deliver a summons
To officially give someone a legal document telling them to go to court or respond to a case.
Examples
- A process server served him with a summons at his office.
- The landlord served a summons on the tenant after months of unpaid rent.
- You must respond quickly if you are served with a summons.
summons and complaint
1/sˈʌmənz ˈænd kəmplˈeɪnt/
fixed phrase
legal
Initial lawsuit papers
Legal papers that tell someone a lawsuit has started against them and explain the claims.
Examples
- The defendant was served with a summons and complaint at her home.
- The summons and complaint gave the company 30 days to respond.
- After receiving the summons and complaint, he contacted a lawyer.
witness summons
1/wˈɪtnəs sˈʌmənz/
fixed phrase
legal
Order for witness attendance
A court order telling a witness to come to court.
Examples
- The prosecutor applied for a witness summons to make him attend the trial.
- She received a witness summons requiring her to give evidence.
- A witness summons may also require a person to bring documents to court.