called into action
idiom
: asked to start working or doing a particular task
As a doctor, she can be called into action at any time of the day.
Our military unit was called into action at the start of the war.
Examples of called into action in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
It would not be believed that Brady would be called into action as quarterback for Team USA, but this could be a chance for top-tier NFL players to showcase their skills in the sport.
—
James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
His days as a starting pitcher are gone — save for a unique scenario Wednesday, when he’ll be called into action — but that same modicum of joy remains.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
In a move that was almost certainly justified with rotation, rather than downgrading, the Brazilian started on the bench and wasn’t called into action until the 63rd minute.
—Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
By pinpointing the merger’s location in the sky, telescopes around the world could be called into action to capture an image of the explosion that accompanied the gravitational waves.
—Lieke Van Son, Scientific American, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for called into action
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
His days as a starting pitcher are gone — save for a unique scenario Wednesday, when he’ll be called into action — but that same modicum of joy remains.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 10 Sep. 2025
In a move that was almost certainly justified with rotation, rather than downgrading, the Brazilian started on the bench and wasn’t called into action until the 63rd minute.
—Sam Leveridge, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
By pinpointing the merger’s location in the sky, telescopes around the world could be called into action to capture an image of the explosion that accompanied the gravitational waves.
—Lieke Van Son, Scientific American, 24 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for called into action
Cite this Entry
“Called into action.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/called%20into%20action. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share