close call

noun \ ˈklōs- \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Examples: close call in a Sentence

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 of close call from the Web

But now Hunter-Reay has taken the sting out of many of the close calls.

— jim ayello, Indianapolis Star, "Insider: After so many close calls, Ryan Hunter-Reay savors that winning feeling," 3 June 2018
The recusal was not, by ordinary standards, a remotely close call.

— jonathan chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Demanded Sessions Block Russia Probe Because He Thinks He’s Above the Law," 29 May 2018
Their close call over war last summer was a wake-up call for both sides to look at the big picture and opt for a beneficial détente over a deadly contest in their remote mountains.

— The Christian Science Monitor, "Why a wave of Asian summitry," 23 Apr. 2018
But the risk of close calls -- and potentially lethal conflicts -- remains.

— Bloomberg.com, "Syria Strikes Lock U.S. and Russia Into a New Era of Animosity," 16 Apr. 2018
Yet after 10 shots at the historic oval at Indianapolis Motor Speedway -- and some oh-so-close calls -- Power had come up wanting.

— jim ayello, Indianapolis Star, "Insider: Will Power achieves immortality with Indy 500 win," 27 May 2018
Trainer Ian Wilkes and Hernandez have been a very tough team this meet and this one rates the slight edge over MR CLASSICAL in a close call, who has been idle since July but is working well for new trainer Brendan Walsh.

— mike battaglia, The Courier-Journal, "Mike Battaglia's free expert picks for Monday at Churchill Downs," 27 May 2018
There are also the close calls: an 18-year-old who brought a loaded gun to a high school near Gelillo’s and that police said had multiple weapons and tactical gear in his home.

— katie zezima, Washington Post, "‘I was not one bit surprised that it happened.’ Shock over school shootings has turned to numbness.," 19 May 2018
Instead of reviewing every close call, coaches could get two challenge flags a game.

— andy staples, SI.com, "Grading Will Muschamp's Tenure and Trajectory at South Carolina," 21 Mar. 2018

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.