call off

verb

called off; calling off; calls off

transitive verb

1

: to draw away : divert

2

: cancel

Synonyms of call off

• distract
• divert
• throw off

Examples of call off in a Sentence

she was about to tell me the big news when her attention was called off by the arrival of another guest

called off the party after half of those invited couldn't make it

Recent Examples on the Web

After Trump called off the attacks, the likelihood on Kalshi that a nuclear deal would happen before January 2027 jumped to 29% early Sunday morning from 17% on Saturday evening. — Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026

Trump called off plans to strike Iran’s energy infrastructure over the weekend after Tehran and regional mediators asked to restart peace talks. — Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 3 Aug. 2026

Trump has since called off the strikes, citing a progress in talks. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026

In the wake of the killings, UMWA leaders Fred Mooney and Frank Keeney called off plans to send large numbers of organizers into Mingo county to be arrested and overwhelm the county jails out of fear that their men might be killed as well. — Elijah Tanall, Encyclopedia Britannica, 29 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for call off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

call off

verb

1

: to draw away : divert

call off a dog

2

: cancel sense 2a

call off a meeting