call off

verb

called off; calling off; calls off

transitive verb

1

: to draw away : divert

2

: cancel

Synonyms of call off

• distract
• divert
• throw off

Examples of call off in a Sentence

she was about to tell me the big news when her attention was called off by the arrival of another guest

called off the party after half of those invited couldn't make it

Recent Examples on the Web

The deputy chased the Trailblazer through Monroe County before calling off the pursuit because of a Veterans Day parade in Monroe, according to the sheriff's office. — CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026

As the controversy mounted, the museum called off the exhibition. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 5 Nov. 2026

The governing body also called off the official presentation for Spain’s Under-21 international against Japan as a mark of respect and solidarity towards De Miguel’s family, teammates and Tenerife supporters. — Reuters, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2026

This logic has endured since 1935, when the League of Nations sanctioned Italy for invading Ethiopia, in the hope that doing so would induce Italy to call off its invasion or at least temper its ambitions. — S. C. M. Paine, Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for call off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

call off

verb

1

: to draw away : divert

call off a dog

2

: cancel sense 2a

call off a meeting