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

Following Tuesday’s fatal crashes, transit advocates are calling on New Yorkers to vote in November on Ballot Question Three, which would expedite the review process for small infrastructure and safe street projects. — Rocco Parascandola, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026

This year’s Little League Baseball World Series calls on teams from far and wide — Curaçao to Czechia, Panama to Pennsylvania. — Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026

Budget watchdogs have continually called on policymakers to get America’s fiscal house in order. — Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 19 Aug. 2026

Last week, the Congressional Black Caucus called on the FBI to launch an independent investigation into Nolan’s death, arguing that federal involvement could give additional scrutiny as key questions about the case loom. — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for call on

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