calling

noun

call·​ing ˈkȯ-liŋ How to pronounce calling (audio)
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
Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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 on the Web
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.
The interplay between Pleakley and Jumba is more miss than hit, with Galifianakis seeming a bit uncomfortable in a role that is more straight than his buffoonish calling card. Gregory Nussen, Deadline, 20 May 2025 Last month, owners tabled the vote on a proposal to ban the play that became the Philadelphia Eagles' calling card over the past couple of seasons. Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025 Less than a month after the interaction, Clooney released an op-ed calling for Biden to drop out of the race. Kaanita Iyer, CNN Money, 15 May 2025 His three-point percentage has fallen below 34 percent over the past three seasons, and his athleticism—once a calling card—hasn’t aged well. Brian Sampson, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for calling

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of calling was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Calling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calling. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

calling

noun
call·​ing ˈkȯ-liŋ How to pronounce calling (audio)

Medical Definition

calling

noun
call·​ing ˈkȯ-liŋ How to pronounce calling (audio)
: the characteristic cry of a female cat in heat
also : the period of heat

More from Merriam-Webster on calling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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