# send for

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/send-for
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

To ask someone to come to you because you need their help or a service. You can also use it to ask for something to be delivered to your house.

For teachers: To summon a person or request that an object be brought to one's location. This phrasal verb is transitive and inseparable, requiring the object to follow the particle 'for'.

## Examples

- If the pain gets worse, we will send for a doctor.
- The hotel manager sent for a technician after the elevator stopped working during the busy morning shift.
- Upon discovering the ancient manuscript was a forgery, the museum director immediately sent for the lead investigator to begin a formal inquiry.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I sent the doctor when I felt sick." but "I sent for the doctor when I felt sick." — Without 'for', the sentence means you dispatched the doctor to another location instead of summoning them to yourself.

## Usage notes

- This phrase is often used with professional roles like doctors, police, or repair workers.
- Teaching tip: Explain that 'send for' implies the speaker is staying put and waiting for the person or thing to arrive.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.