close call

\ ˈklōs-

\

Definition of close call

: a narrow escape

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Examples of close call in a Sentence

We nearly didn't get out of the burning building. It was a pretty close call, let me tell you! the doctor said I'd had a close call, and was lucky to be alive

Recent Examples on the Web Sectional week started with a dominant performance on Wednesday in a win over rival Lawrence Central, followed by the close calls against Attucks and Warren Central. — Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star, "It was the hottest basketball sectional. Then attendees started dying of coronavirus.," 18 Apr. 2020 Nonetheless, the apparent close call sparked a flurry of worries worldwide among officials and politicians whose jobs require meeting with members of the public and counterparts from all over the world. — Miriam Berger, Washington Post, "The coronavirus pandemic makes inroads into the highest echelons of world politics," 13 Mar. 2020 Outside of the close call against North Carolina in which the Tigers had to stop a two-point conversion to win, their margin of victory has been 38, 14, 35, 42, 31, 35 and 45 in the rest of their games. — Dan Wolken, USA TODAY, "Week 11 observations: Alabama doesn't deserve Playoff spot, but that doesn't mean it won't get one," 10 Nov. 2019 The Brewers have had close calls over the years, including perhaps the most famous example in 2008, but every year seems to take us farther from the possibility that Juan Nieves' feat can be matched. — Jr Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "50 in 50: Juan Nieves records the Brewers' only no-hitter," 28 Apr. 2020 Paul Hester, who's worked for the county ambulance service since 1972, said one person from Quitman County has died in an ambulance while on the way to a neighboring county since 2016 -- and there have been other close calls. — Collette Richards, CNN, "Rural hospitals are facing financial ruin and furloughing staff during the coronavirus pandemic," 21 Apr. 2020 After a few close calls, Otani gets the win but in controversial fashion. — cleveland, "100 greatest wrestling matches to watch over WrestleMania weekend," 3 Apr. 2020 The Bears escaped what almost looked like another close call. — Destine Gibson, Dallas News, "Jared Butler leads No. 1 Baylor to 19th straight win, ends Bears’ struggles vs. Kansas State," 4 Feb. 2020 And in a really, really close call, San Francisco’s Smokin’ Warehouse Barbecue beat Emeryville’s Pig in a Pickle, which also has a location in Corte Madera, by one vote. — Cicero Estrella, The Mercury News, "Vote: Best Bay Area barbecue? Here’s the Savory 16," 30 Aug. 2019

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

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Dictionary Entries near close call

close, but no cigar

close by (someone or something)

close communion

close corporation

Statistics for close call

Last Updated

17 May 2020

Cite this Entry

“Close call.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/close%20call. Accessed 5 Jun. 2020.

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