To gather or call upon courage, strength, a memory, or an emotion from within oneself, often with effort.
To find and use courage, energy, or a memory from deep inside yourself, even when it's hard.
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
To gather courage, strength, or willpower from within oneself, especially when it is difficult to do so.
"She summoned up every ounce of courage she had and stepped onto the stage."
He had to summon up his courage and speak.
— J.K. Rowling, 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone', 1997 (paraphrased from narrative context)
To bring a memory, image, or feeling to mind, often deliberately.
"The old photograph summoned up memories of childhood summers she hadn't thought about in years."
(Literary/archaic) To call up a spirit, supernatural force, or power.
"In the old legend, the wizard summoned up a demon by reciting the forbidden words."
To summon (call) something up (from within or from somewhere).
To find and use courage, energy, or a memory from deep inside yourself, even when it's hard.
Often used with abstract nouns: 'summon up courage/strength/energy/a smile/memories.' Has a slightly literary or formal quality. The particle 'up' suggests gathering something from within and bringing it to the surface.
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Listen to native speakers using "summon up" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
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