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

When a police helicopter takes over, the ground chase is called off, unless the deputy is conducting a PIT maneuver, or the suspect is armed. — Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2026

The game was called off after the injury, and Savoy took a loss by forfeit, according to Savoy ISD. — Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Oct. 2026

But Iran does not control the Houthis, so the group is not going to stop attacking Saudi Arabia or call off its campaign inside Yemen simply because Iran says to. — Allison Minor, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2026

With the merger called off, the attorneys general have moved to have the lawsuit dismissed. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 27 Oct. 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