call 1 of 2

Definition of callnext
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as in to dial
to make a telephone call to use this cell phone to call me if there's an emergency

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as in to consider
to think of in a particular way I wouldn't quite call that cheating, but it's not entirely ethical either

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6
as in to cry
to utter one's distinctive animal sound the dog called whenever it flushed a quail

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7
as in to summon
to bring together in assembly by or as if by command called all the night workers in for a meeting

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

8
as in to estimate
to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement let's call that five feet for now, and we'll measure it out later

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as in to order
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority the union president is refusing to call a strike

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12

call

2 of 2

noun

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2
as in visit
a coming to see another briefly for social or business reasons we paid a call on the new neighbors the day after they moved in

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3
as in message
a communication by telephone give me a call as soon as you arrive, so I'll know you got there safely

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4
5
as in right
an entitlement to something you have no call to insult people

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as in demand
the state of being sought after especially for purchase there's not much call for woodstoves in this part of the country

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word call different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of call are cite, convene, convoke, muster, and summon. While all these words mean "to demand the presence of," call may be used less formally for summon.

called the legislature into special session

When can cite be used instead of call?

The words cite and call are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, cite implies a summoning to court usually to answer a charge.

cited for drunken driving

How do convene and convoke relate to one another, in the sense of call?

Convene is somewhat less formal than convoke.

convened the students

Where would convoke be a reasonable alternative to call?

The meanings of convoke and call largely overlap; however, convoke implies a summons to assemble for deliberative or legislative purposes.

convoked a Vatican council

When is muster a more appropriate choice than call?

In some situations, the words muster and call are roughly equivalent. However, muster suggests a calling up of a number of things that form a group in order that they may be exhibited, displayed, or utilized as a whole.

mustered the troops

In what contexts can summon take the place of call?

Although the words summon and call have much in common, summon implies the exercise of authority.

was summoned to answer charges

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of call
Verb
Located in Conneaut, the company plan to produce what are called Active Anode Materials (AAM) at the new facility. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 31 May 2026 In Arabic, it is called Al-Shaqif castle, an old Syriac word referring to the formidable rocky area. Arkansas Online, 31 May 2026
Noun
Treasury is already warning families to watch for scams, fake websites, and improper calls or texts during the rollout. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026 Vietnam and India also received call-outs to improve their military readiness. Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 30 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for call
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call
Verb
  • Counter-protesters showed up toward the end and shouted toward the Hernandez supporters and the two sides exchanged some words before dispersing.
    Marisa Ingemi, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2026
  • Upon accepting his Vanguard Award from the third annual Critics Choice Association‘s Celebration of LGBTQ+ Cinema & Television last night, Big Mistakes co-creator Dan Levy took a moment to shout out Canadian production for being a step ahead.
    Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 30 May 2026
Verb
  • Though Ohtani had only given up one run in his previous three starts combined, his command hadn’t been fully dialed in the last two outings.
    Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
  • In the weeks after the war in Iran started, EU member states began to show concerns about fuel shortages at their airports, with major global airlines having dialed down their service schedules to due the potential supply issues and escalating prices.
    Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • Spend time walking around, snapping photos, or visiting the small interactive museum, ZOOOM, where a short 3D film flies viewers over the mountain range; admission is included in the ticket price.
    Lauren David, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2026
  • According to organizers, the 2027 run will visit approximately 50 cities across the United States and Canada from February through April, marking a decade since the touring drag production first launched.
    Holly Alvarado, Daily News, 29 May 2026
Verb
  • Italian authorities have canceled upcoming concerts by Kanye West and Travis Scott that had been scheduled to take place in July in the northern city of Reggio Emilia, citing security concerns.
    Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 31 May 2026
  • When a user cancels a promotional subscription, the system flags the promo as redeemed, and it can’t be reinstated, even by Google’s support staff.
    Paul Monckton, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • The group considers how skilled members of Congress are at moving their agenda items forward.
    Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
  • Good ex-etiquette means considering how your decisions impact your co-parenting structure, not just your romantic relationship.
    Jann Blackstone, Boston Herald, 31 May 2026
Verb
  • Children with the virus may be fussy and sleepy throughout the day, and cry without tears.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 29 May 2026
  • Garner later showed how emotional the moment made her by posting a series of photos on Instagram of herself crying.
    Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • The distance between your villa and dinner or your villa and the spa, however, can be long–but your butler can summon a golf cart to make getting around much easier.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
  • Five others escaped the cave’s narrow tunnels after rescue efforts by international experts summoned to the perilous cave in central Laos.
    Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 1 June 2026
Verb
  • In Dnipro, the death toll was estimated to be 16, with over 40 people sustaining injuries, said regional governor Oleksandr Hanzha.
    Tiago Ventura, Time, 2 June 2026
  • Authorities estimate the passageway extended roughly 1,933 feet, reaching depths of about 55 feet underground and standing as tall as 4½ feet in some sections.
    Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 2 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Call.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

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