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Definition call in American English

call verb

verb
/kɔl/
1

to ask or tell someone to come to a place, usually so that you can talk to them

Example

She called me up to the office to explain the new policy.

Example

He called me over and gave me a talking-to.

Example

He's been called to a meeting with the vice-president.

Example

Robinson was called before the commission last week.

Synonyms and related words
1.1

to telephone a person or organization that provides a service and ask them to come

Example

Can you call a taxi for me?

Example

Jack went to call an ambulance.

Example

Eventually the police were called.

Example

Firefighters were called to a blaze at a school.

Synonyms and related words
1.2

to order someone to be present or give evidence in a court of law

Example

She was scared she would be called to testify.

Synonyms and related words
2

to speak loudly, or to shout to someone who is not near you

Example

Did you call me?

Example

Her father called up the stairs.

Example

Paul called to the waiter for another drink.

Example

He called to the driver to stop.

Synonyms and related words
3

to telephone someone

Example

He called her from the hospital.

Example

For more information call 1-800-555-3820.

Example

I'll call to confirm the time of the meeting.

Synonyms and related words
4

to describe or refer to someone or something in a particular way

Example

The President called him "a genuine hero."

Example

I would call what's happening there a war.

Example

It is sometimes called the Garden State because there are so many areas with trees and plants.

Synonyms and related words
4.1

to say that something is a particular amount, although this is not the exact amount

Example

You owe me $5.08, so let's call it five even.

Synonyms and related words
4.2

to criticize someone, or to say unpleasant things about them

Example

They called me stupid and useless.

Example

Are you calling me a liar?

Example

The other children teased her and called her names.

Synonyms and related words
4.3

to describe yourself in a particular way

Example

He has no right to call himself a good neighbor.

Synonyms and related words
5

to use a particular name or title for someone

Example

Her name's Elizabeth, but we call her Liz.

Example

The teachers always called us by our last names.

Synonyms and related words
5.1

to give someone or something a name or title

Example

Have you decided what to call the dog yet?

Example

If the baby is a boy, they'll call him William.

Synonyms and related words
6

to say loudly the names or numbers on a list

Example

When I call your name, raise your hand.

Synonyms and related words
6.1

to announce that passengers should go to their airplane because it will soon be leaving

Example

It'll be another 45 minutes before our flight is called.

Synonyms and related words
7

to announce that an event such as a meeting or election is going to happen

Example

Harris wants to call a meeting to discuss the new proposals.

Example

The country should dissolve its parliament and call an election.

Synonyms and related words
8

if an animal calls, it makes the sound it usually makes

Synonyms and related words
8.1

to make an animal come toward you by making the sound it usually makes

Synonyms and related words
9

to say what you think will happen, for example in politics or business

Example

The situation in the East is hard to call.

Example

It's very difficult to call the market.

Synonyms and related words
9.1

to say which side of a coin you think will be showing when it comes down after being tossed in the air

Example

When Neil tossed the coin, she called heads and won.

Synonyms and related words
10

to ask for a time-out (=a short period when play stops) during a sports game

Example

The referees called time while the clock was reset.

Synonyms and related words
10.1

to end a sports game early, usually because of the weather

Example

The ball game was called in the seventh inning because of rain.

Synonyms and related words
10.2

to make an official decision about something that happens in a sports game

Example

When the umpire called him out, the fans went wild.

Synonyms and related words
11

to say which of the four suits of cards will be trump (=cards with a higher value) in a card game

Synonyms and related words
11.1

to tell someone that they must show their cards in some card games

Synonyms and related words
12

to tell dancers which movements to make, especially for a square dance

Synonyms and related words
13

to describe on television or radio what is happening in a race or game

Synonyms and related words
14

if a train, bus, or ship calls somewhere, it stops there during its trip

Synonyms and related words
14.1

to stop at a place on your way to another place, usually so that you can do something

Synonyms and related words
14.2

to visit someone, usually for a short time

Example

I'll call tomorrow and we can discuss it then.

Synonyms and related words
Definition call in American English

Related Words

Words related to call:

a close call (phrase) at someone’s beck and call (phrase) be on call (phrase) booty call (noun) someone to heel (phrase) to mind (phrase) someone to account (phrase) call (verb) call (noun) CALL (noun) call (someone’s) attention to (phrase) call a halt (to something) (phrase) call a spade a spade (phrase) call after (phrasal verb) call away (phrasal verb) call back (phrasal verb) call box (noun) call by (phrasal verb) call center (noun) call divert (noun) call down (phrasal verb) call for (phrasal verb) call forth (phrasal verb) call forwarding (noun) call girl (noun) call in (phrasal verb) call in sick (phrase) call it a (phrase) call it quits (phrase) call off (phrasal verb) call on (phrasal verb) call operator (noun) call out (phrasal verb) call someone to account (for something) (phrase) call someone’s bluff (phrase) call something into (phrase) call something into (phrase) call the (phrase) call to action (phrase) call to arms (phrase) call up (phrasal verb) call upon (phrasal verb) call waiting (noun) call-in (noun) call-up (noun) something into question (phrase) clarion call (noun) cold call (noun) collect call (noun) conference call (noun) courtesy call (noun) curtain call (noun) don’t call us, we’ll call you (phrase) have first call on (phrase) if you can call it (phrase) is that what you call it? (phrase) judgment call (noun) last call (noun) make a (phone) call (phrase) (now) that’s what I call something (phrase) outside (phrase) pay a (phrase) phone call (noun) pocket-dial (verb) port of call (noun) prank call (noun) reverse-charge call (noun) shotgun (phrase) roll call (noun) telephone call (noun) the call of duty (phrase) the call of nature (phrase) there’s no call for something (phrase) toll call (noun) too close to call (phrase) wake-up call (noun) what do you call ? (phrase)