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
After a lengthy review, the call on the field was upheld, and UCLA celebrated the program’s first Big Ten tournament title.
—
Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2026
As far back as ancient Greece, philosophers like Aristotle have worried about what happens when people are called on to make judgments in cases where they are involved.
—Austin Sarat, Fortune, 24 May 2026
Demand Has Gone Parabolic Huang closed Nvidia’s earnings call on May 20 with one line.
—Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
On Thursday, Texas GOP Chairman Abraham George called on both Paxton and Cornyn to drop the negative ads against each other.
—Jack Fink, CBS News, 24 May 2026
Sans Yeboah, who has posted eight goals in 1,193 minutes, the Loons’ first called on reserve forward Momo Dieng to start and then brought on subs Mauricio Gonzalez and Marcus Caldeira, who made his MLS debut.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 23 May 2026
Bradgley Rodriguez replaced Buehler to start the sixth and got two quick outs before a pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases, and Adrian Morejón was called on to get out of the jam.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2026
In a separate action, the union has also called on all professionals in the performing arts, media, and publishing sectors to join a protest against Bolloré in front of the legendary Olympia music hall in Paris, which is owned bby Vivendi, in which the Bolloré Group.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 23 May 2026
Two pilots will steer the ship, controlling boosters and hyperspace jumps; two gunners will defend the Millenium Falcon from enemy ships; and two engineers will ensure the Falcon remains intact while collecting bounty cargo, perhaps even calling on a small green friend along the way.
—Tiffany Chang, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2026
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Los Angeles Times Staff, Los Angeles Times, 25 May 2026
As far back as ancient Greece, philosophers like Aristotle have worried about what happens when people are called on to make judgments in cases where they are involved.
—Austin Sarat, Fortune, 24 May 2026
Demand Has Gone Parabolic Huang closed Nvidia’s earnings call on May 20 with one line.
—Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
On Thursday, Texas GOP Chairman Abraham George called on both Paxton and Cornyn to drop the negative ads against each other.
—Jack Fink, CBS News, 24 May 2026
Sans Yeboah, who has posted eight goals in 1,193 minutes, the Loons’ first called on reserve forward Momo Dieng to start and then brought on subs Mauricio Gonzalez and Marcus Caldeira, who made his MLS debut.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 23 May 2026
Bradgley Rodriguez replaced Buehler to start the sixth and got two quick outs before a pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases, and Adrian Morejón was called on to get out of the jam.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2026
In a separate action, the union has also called on all professionals in the performing arts, media, and publishing sectors to join a protest against Bolloré in front of the legendary Olympia music hall in Paris, which is owned bby Vivendi, in which the Bolloré Group.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 23 May 2026
Two pilots will steer the ship, controlling boosters and hyperspace jumps; two gunners will defend the Millenium Falcon from enemy ships; and two engineers will ensure the Falcon remains intact while collecting bounty cargo, perhaps even calling on a small green friend along the way.
—Tiffany Chang, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Call on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/call%20on. Accessed 27 May. 2026.
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