send for

ask someone to come to you, or order something to be delivered

B2

What does "send for sb/sth" mean?

To 'send for' someone means to instruct another person to go and bring them, or to make an official request for someone to come to you. It implies a degree of authority or urgency — the person sending is not going themselves, but arranging for someone else to be fetched or summoned. It can also mean requesting that something, such as a catalogue or set of documents, be sent to you through an official channel. The phrase carries a slightly formal or old-fashioned tone in modern English, and you will often encounter it in historical novels, period dramas, or emergency situations. In everyday casual speech, British and American speakers often prefer 'call a doctor' or 'get an ambulance', but 'send for' remains perfectly natural in more urgent or formal contexts.

Examples

How to use it

send for + person

The most common use — requesting that a person be summoned or fetched, often in an emergency or by someone in authority.

The factory manager sent for a safety inspector as soon as he saw the damage.

send for + thing

Used when requesting delivery of a physical item, such as a catalogue, document, or set of supplies, through an official channel.

She sent for the brochure after seeing the advertisement in the newspaper.

send for + pronoun (him / her / them)

Pronouns always follow 'for' — they can never be placed between 'send' and 'for'.

The director wants to speak with you — I'll send for her right away.

imperative: send for + person/thing

The imperative form is very common, especially in urgent situations where speed matters.

Send for a plumber immediately — the pipe has burst and water is everywhere.

had + sent for + person/thing

The past perfect is frequently used in narrative to show that summoning happened before another event.

By the time the guests arrived, the host had already sent for extra chairs and refreshments.

Common Collocations

send for a doctorsend for helpsend for the policesend for reinforcementssend for a specialistsend for a catalogue

Common Mistakes

Separating the verb

'Send for' is inseparable, so the object must always come after 'for'. Placing the object between 'send' and 'for' is incorrect in all cases.

✗ She sent him for immediately.
✓ She sent for him immediately.
Confusing 'send for' with 'call for'

'Call for' implies direct or immediate contact, while 'send for' suggests arranging for someone else to go and bring a person, or making a formal request for delivery. They are not always interchangeable.

✗ The situation calls for a specialist — I'll send for one right away. (using 'calls for' to mean summon)
✓ The situation requires a specialist — I'll send for one right away.
Using the present continuous

'Send for' sounds unnatural in the present continuous. Use the simple present or future instead when talking about an action happening now or about to happen.

✗ I am sending for a doctor right now.
✓ I'll send for a doctor right now. / I've sent for a doctor.

Usage

This phrasal verb sounds slightly formal or old-fashioned in modern conversation, especially for summoning people — British speakers may still use it naturally, but in casual speech 'call' or 'get' are more common. It is perfectly natural in emergencies and written contexts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'send for' sound old-fashioned? Can I use it in modern English?

It does carry a slightly formal or literary tone, especially when used to summon people, and you will hear it more often in British English than American English. That said, it is still completely natural in emergency contexts — 'send for an ambulance' or 'send for reinforcements' sounds perfectly normal today. In very casual conversation, speakers often prefer 'call' or 'get', but 'send for' is never wrong.

Can 'send for' be used in the passive, like 'the doctor was sent for'?

Native speakers generally avoid passive constructions with 'send for' because the object follows the preposition 'for' rather than being a direct object, which makes the passive grammatically awkward. It is much more natural to keep it active: 'They sent for the doctor' rather than 'The doctor was sent for'.

What kinds of things can you 'send for'? Is it only people?

You can send for both people and things. For people, typical examples include sending for a doctor, a specialist, the police, or a lawyer. For things, it is used when requesting delivery of items like catalogues, supplies, or documents through a formal channel. However, if you are ordering food delivery, the more natural phrase is 'send out for' (as in 'send out for pizza').

Is 'send for' more common in British or American English?

It is noticeably more common in British English, where it appears regularly in both everyday speech and writing. American English speakers are more likely to say 'call a doctor' or 'get a specialist' in contexts where a British speaker might naturally say 'send for'. You will also encounter it frequently in British literature and period drama.

What is the difference between 'send for someone' and 'send someone to get something'?

'Send for someone' means you are summoning that person to come to you — they are the one being fetched. 'Send someone to get something' means you are dispatching a person to go and retrieve a different object — that person is the one doing the fetching. For example, 'send for the manager' means the manager is coming to you, while 'send someone to get the manager' describes giving another person the task of fetching them.

Ready to practise?

Practise 1,000+ English phrasal verbs with interactive gap-fill exercises.

Start Practising →