call on

verb

called on; calling on; calls on

transitive verb

1

: to call upon

Is there anyone you can call on in an emergency?

2

: to elicit a response from (someone, such as a student)

the teacher called on her first

3

US, informal : to directly criticize (someone) for (something, such as bad behavior)

She's incredibly rude, but no one ever calls her on it.

Examples of call on in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Goalkeeper Camilo Vargas, on the other hand, has been called on to make just five saves. — Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026

In a Facebook post last Friday, Garden City Mayor Bill Jacobs shared a photo from a neighbor of a snapping turtle and called on residents to be on the lookout for these giants. — Hannah Smith july 1, Idaho Statesman, 1 July 2026

Crump continues to push for transparency and on Wednesday called on authorities and Walmart to release any footage from the response. — Bracey Harris, NBC news, 1 July 2026

And he’s called on the state attorney general’s office to support that investigation, according to the statement. — Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026

Zampolli, who had previously urged FIFA to replace Iran with Italy at the World Cup, called on the soccer body to treat the episode seriously. — Deborah Danan, Sun Sentinel, 29 June 2026

Justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas dissented, calling on the court to reconsider the legal standards for public figures who claim defamation. — ABC News, 29 June 2026

Provide instructions on what to do if someone comes to the door or calls on the phone. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 June 2026

A day after the vote, Braun called on the commission to rehear the case. — Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026

Rhymes for call on

• anton
• argon
• axon
• baronne
• baryon
• baton
• boron
• buisson
• bygone
• capon
• cardon
• chiffon