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
Never before has Slot called on the silky-skilled teenager before the 70-minute mark in a Premier League game, and in only five of his nine outings has he been given more than 10 minutes of normal time to make a difference.
—
Gregg Evans, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Knight, after two fouls called on his team, is hit with his first technical.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Investors called on Novo Nordisk to pivot to sectors beyond weight loss after disappointing trial results for a new drug saw the Danish pharmaceutical giant’s stock plummet.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 23 Feb. 2026
If Schoen is talking money but doesn’t have the final call on contracts, how will that impact which players the Giants ultimately both pursue and sign?
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2026
Protesters were calling on the school to divest its holdings from companies linked to Israel over the war in Gaza.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
Some are projected to be first- or second-round draft picks, some are likely to hear their names called on Day 2 of the NFL draft and others are just hoping for a shot to be picked at all.
—Austin American Statesman, 23 Feb. 2026
Norwegian Cruise Line said its ship the Norwegian Bliss has canceled its plans to call on Puerto Vallarta on Wednesday.
—Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 23 Feb. 2026
In view of the series of blockades and attacks registered on the highways that connect with Jalisco, Governor Miguel Angel Navarro Quintero suspended classes in the State at all educational levels and called on the population to stay indoors.
—Claudia Núñez, AZCentral.com, 22 Feb. 2026
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Gregg Evans, New York Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Knight, after two fouls called on his team, is hit with his first technical.
—Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Investors called on Novo Nordisk to pivot to sectors beyond weight loss after disappointing trial results for a new drug saw the Danish pharmaceutical giant’s stock plummet.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 23 Feb. 2026
If Schoen is talking money but doesn’t have the final call on contracts, how will that impact which players the Giants ultimately both pursue and sign?
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2026
Protesters were calling on the school to divest its holdings from companies linked to Israel over the war in Gaza.
—Ryan MacAsero, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026
Some are projected to be first- or second-round draft picks, some are likely to hear their names called on Day 2 of the NFL draft and others are just hoping for a shot to be picked at all.
—Austin American Statesman, 23 Feb. 2026
Norwegian Cruise Line said its ship the Norwegian Bliss has canceled its plans to call on Puerto Vallarta on Wednesday.
—Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 23 Feb. 2026
In view of the series of blockades and attacks registered on the highways that connect with Jalisco, Governor Miguel Angel Navarro Quintero suspended classes in the State at all educational levels and called on the population to stay indoors.
—Claudia Núñez, AZCentral.com, 22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Call on.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/call%20on. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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