call 1 of 5

1
2
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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3
4
5
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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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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9
10
11
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 5

noun

1
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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6
7
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

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call (for)

3 of 5

verb (2)

call (on or upon)

4 of 5

verb (3)

as in to see
to make a social call upon lots of well-wishers called on the new parents in the weeks following the birth of their first child

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call for

5 of 5

phrase

1
as in order
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority The bill calls for tighter regulation.

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2
3
as in put in (for)
to give a request or demand for The position calls for someone with a master's degree.

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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
The organization, which relies almost entirely on donations and volunteer fosters, is also calling attention to the overcrowding at local shelters and encourages people to adopt or foster animals to free up space, so more animals like Xiao Mao can get help. Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 17 Oct. 2025 With rare exception, the articles called for people to fight drug addiction, escape homelessness, embrace Jesus. Jeff Pearlman, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
But writing the thriller did involve many phone calls. Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 11 Oct. 2025 Simplifying early play calls could help. Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for call
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call
Noun
  • The couple dozed like babies in the leaves—that cry, that wail, had become their sleep trigger.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
  • It’s designed to detect your baby’s cries and automatically responds by gently rocking them to white noise and motion—a win for baby, and for mom.
    Cortne Bonilla, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Good works Northgate González Market donated more than 300 care packages during a recent visit to children battling cancer at Children’s Hospital of Orange County.
    Samantha Gowen, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
  • After a visit to her showroom during a Copenhagen design festival, conversations surrounding a collaboration sparked.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Starring Wood Harris, MC Lyte, Russell Hornsby, and the late Esther Rolle in her final performance, the film delivers a powerful message about accountability and the consequences of one night that changes everything.
    Okla Jones, Essence, 16 Oct. 2025
  • If anything, the only pertinent message is one his players can relate to.
    Chad Graff, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Allied officials did not respond to an interview request.
    Shomik Mukherjee, Mercury News, 17 Oct. 2025
  • San Bernardino County Sheriff Haro’s lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
    Madeline Morrison, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Wyeth hadn’t gotten the exposure right, and greasy shadows overwhelmed almost all the fine detail in the boy’s image.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Russia remains the only foreign government that has formally recognized the Taliban and diplomats have said steps toward recognition require a change of course on women’s rights.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Third, standardize decision-grade data and impact frameworks.
    Olivier Wenden, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Filosa said the investment decisions were a result of discussions with the company’s new leadership team as well as stakeholders such as the company’s franchised dealer network.
    Michael Wayland, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Developed over two years, the CCI aims to give brands an empirical readout of how social, search and site traffic activity correspond with real economic indicators, from consumer demand to share-price performance.
    Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 17 Oct. 2025
  • And yet demand for cultural commentary seems as high as it’s ever been.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Reports began emerging at the end of last week that Spotify users who receive ads were hearing spots from ICE calling for new recruits amid their music.
    Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
  • And then, in a baffling combination of play-calling and execution, Payton downshifted Denver’s offense into purgatory for three quarters.
    Luca Evans, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025

Cite this Entry

“Call.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.

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