close call

noun

: a narrow escape

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
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.
Following the close call, Rollins took the microphone and agreed to the mixed tag match for Wrestlepalooza on behalf of himself and his wife. Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025 The incident is the latest close call at Washington’s Reagan National Airport since the beginning of the year. Aaron Cooper, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025 With multiple overtime games, upsets and close calls, Week 2 provided a lot of reasons to shake up this week’s edition of The Athletic 136, just not at the top. Chris Vannini, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025 Then again, close calls against FCS teams – and Northern Colorado isn’t a particularly good FCS team – tend to look even worse in hindsight. Jon Wilner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for close call

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of close call was in 1881

Cite this Entry

“Close call.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/close%20call. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

close call

noun
: a narrow escape
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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