call upon

phrase

1

: require, oblige

may be called upon to do several jobs

2

: to make a demand on : depend on

universities are called upon to produce trained professionals

Examples of call upon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Pascal Struijk and Michael Svoboda, also signed during this summer’s window — from Leeds United and Italian side Venezia for around £18m and £7m respectively — were on the bench without being called upon by Hurzeler. — Andy Naylor, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Created by bartender Bradleigh Mobley at Bayonet in Birmingham (one of our Best New Restaurants of 2026), the drink calls upon the nostalgia of Nerds candy to create a zippy yet balanced drink that’s undeniably entertaining. — Bradleigh Mobley, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026

Mullin and Chu are also leading a coalition of 37 lawmakers across the country in calling upon NARA for more information about why the agency is shutting the facilities. — Stephanie Lam, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026

When one student is called upon, all students repeat their peer’s name and turn their heads toward them. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for call upon

• aileron
• antiphon
• autobahn
• carillon
• castellan
• celadon
• cephalon
• cynodon
• denouement
• deuteron
• echelon
• epsilon