calling

noun call·ing \ ˈkȯ-liŋ \

Definition of calling

1 :a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence

2 :the vocation or profession in which one customarily engages

3 :the characteristic cry of a female cat in heat; also :the period of heat

See calling defined for English-language learners

See calling defined for kids

Examples of calling in a Sentence

He had always felt a calling to help others.
He experienced a calling to enter the priesthood.

Recent Examples of calling from the Web

Seated a couple of feet away, Mayweather, suddenly chummy after weeks of school-yard name-calling, softly told him: the money.

— rick maese, chicagotribune.com, "While Floyd Mayweather heads back to retirement, Conor McGregor weighs his fighting options," 27 Aug. 2017
After several months, dispirited Oklahoma investigators acknowledged that old-school tactics for locating contacts, like knocking on doors and cold-calling, were not very effective.

— jan hoffman, The Seattle Times, "Once thought all but conquered, syphilis has come roaring back," 24 Aug. 2017
After several months, dispirited Oklahoma investigators acknowledged that old-school tactics for locating contacts, like knocking on doors and cold-calling, were not very effective.

— jan hoffman, New York Times, "Hunting a Killer: Sex, Drugs and the Return of Syphilis," 24 Aug. 2017
Now, the keys are in Lindsey's hands as Malzahn has taken a back seat from play-calling, and the Tigers' new offensive coordinator plans to incorporate more RPOs, or run-pass options, into the scheme while expanding the receivers' route tree.

— tom green, AL.com, "Chip Lindsey maintaining Auburn's identity, retooling passing game," 22 Aug. 2017
The butterfly has become something of a calling card for the couple.

— andrea park, Teen Vogue, "Kylie Jenner's Birthday Gift From Travis Scott Might Be This $60,000 Diamond Choker," 14 Aug. 2017
With David Price on the DL, the starting pitching – their calling card for October – could now come up short.

— dom amore, courant.com, "MLB Deadline Winners And Losers," 1 Aug. 2017
The team first examined the 202 football players’ brains for CTE’s microscopic calling card: clumps of a neuronal protein called tau tagged with extra phosphate groups.

— meredith wadman, Science | AAAS, "Ninety-nine percent of ailing NFL player brains show hallmarks of neurodegenerative disease, autopsy study finds," 25 July 2017
Fifteen years later and eclipse chasing had become a true calling.

— david makepeace, Popular Mechanics, "The Well-Traveled, Cosmically Enlightened Life of an Eclipse Chaser," 17 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'calling.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of calling

13th century

calling Synonyms

Synonyms

abandonment, abortion, cancellation, calling off, dropping, recall, recision, repeal, rescission, revocation

Antonyms

continuation

Related Words

annulment, invalidation, neutralization, nullification, voidance; abolishment, abolition, ending, halting, stopping, termination; giving up, relinquishment, surrender; reversal, rollback

Near Antonyms

beginning, commencement, initiation; engagement, undertaking

Synonym Discussion of calling

work, employment, occupation, calling, pursuit, métier, business mean a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living. work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.

- her work as a hospital volunteer

employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer.

- your employment with this firm is hereby terminated

occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.

- his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.

- the ministry seemed my true calling

pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.

- her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.

- acting was my one and only métier

business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs.

- the business of managing a hotel

CALLING Defined for English Language Learners

calling

noun

Definition of calling for English Language Learners

: a strong desire to spend your life doing a certain kind of work (such as religious work)
: the work that a person does or should be doing

CALLING Defined for Kids

calling

noun call·ing \ ˈkȯ-liŋ \

Definition of calling for Students

:a profession especially that a person feels strongly about

Teaching was his true calling.

Medical Dictionary

calling

noun call·ing \ ˈkȯ-liŋ \

medical Definition of calling

:the characteristic cry of a female cat in heat; also :the period of heat

Learn More about calling

See words that rhyme with calling Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for calling Spanish Central: Translation of calling Nglish: Translation of calling for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of calling for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about calling

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up calling? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

calling

Definition of calling

Explore Merriam-Webster

Examples of calling in a Sentence

Recent Examples of calling from the Web

First Known Use of calling

calling Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of calling

Phrases Related to CALLING

Related Phrases

CALLING Defined for English Language Learners

calling

Definition of calling for English Language Learners

CALLING Defined for Kids

calling

Definition of calling for Students

Medical Dictionary

calling

medical Definition of calling

Learn More about calling

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

The Exceptions Quiz III

The Origins of 'Lobbyist'

Trending: McCain: Half-Baked, 'Spurious' Nationalism

17 English Words that Come From Japanese

Words of the Year: 1066