call off

1 to draw the attention or mind to something else <she was about to tell me the big news when her attention was called off by the arrival of another guest> Synonyms abstract, distract, detract, divert, throw offRelated Words amuse, beguile, entertain; stray, wanderNear Antonyms concentrate, focus

2 to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) <called off the party after half of those invited couldn't make it> Synonyms abandon, abort, call, cancel, cry off, drop, recall, repeal, rescind, revoke, scrap, scrubRelated Words abrogate, annul, invalidate, nullify, void, write off; recant, retract, take back, withdraw; countermand, reverse, roll back; break off, discontinue, end, halt, stop, terminate; hold back, interrupt, suspend; give up, relinquish, surrenderNear Antonyms engage, pledge, promise; begin, commence, initiate, start; take on, take up, undertakeAntonyms continue, keep