call on
verb
called on; calling on; calls on
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
But the call on the field stood and San Francisco pitcher Adrian Houser, who wasn't in the game, and director of pitching Frank Anderson were ejected for arguing the call from the dugout.
—
CBS News, 3 May 2026
Unions representing about 2,000 pilots, 5,500 flight attendants, mechanics and other employees laid off by Spirit called on its leadership and the government to ensure workers receive the compensation and benefits they are owed.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 2 May 2026
Following the stabbing of two Jewish men in London this week, the Jewish community has called on the government to do more to protect it.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 2 May 2026
But the call on the field stood and San Francisco pitcher Adrian Houser, who wasn’t in the game, and director of pitching Frank Anderson were ejected for arguing the call from the dugout.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
The Hut is calling on parents to enroll their children in its famed BOOK IT!
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 1 May 2026
For weeks now, the Iranian regime has been calling on its backers to throng the streets by the thousands every night, as part of an effort to rally support for the war and intimidate the opposition.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 1 May 2026
San Diego filed a lawsuit last June calling on the Local Agency Formation Commission — which provides guidance to communities seeking to become cities — to rescind a ruling allowing La Jolla’s cityhood effort to move forward.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2026
Ukraine Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on organizers to reconsider the move.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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CBS News, 3 May 2026
Unions representing about 2,000 pilots, 5,500 flight attendants, mechanics and other employees laid off by Spirit called on its leadership and the government to ensure workers receive the compensation and benefits they are owed.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 2 May 2026
Following the stabbing of two Jewish men in London this week, the Jewish community has called on the government to do more to protect it.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 2 May 2026
But the call on the field stood and San Francisco pitcher Adrian Houser, who wasn’t in the game, and director of pitching Frank Anderson were ejected for arguing the call from the dugout.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
The Hut is calling on parents to enroll their children in its famed BOOK IT!
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 1 May 2026
For weeks now, the Iranian regime has been calling on its backers to throng the streets by the thousands every night, as part of an effort to rally support for the war and intimidate the opposition.
—Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 1 May 2026
San Diego filed a lawsuit last June calling on the Local Agency Formation Commission — which provides guidance to communities seeking to become cities — to rescind a ruling allowing La Jolla’s cityhood effort to move forward.
—Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 May 2026
Ukraine Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called on organizers to reconsider the move.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Call on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/call%20on. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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