call 1 of 5

Definition of callnext
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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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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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

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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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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)

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verb (2)

call for

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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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call (on or upon)

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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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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
More than 4,200 Chicago residents called 311 to report basement floods. Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2026 Anunoby called it special to do this for a city that had waited more than half a century. C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 14 June 2026
Noun
As for in-game flopping calls, those are exponentially more rare than post game warnings and fines. Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 June 2026 The Americans gradually amplified their attack centered around Pulisic’s runs — and three minutes after an apparent goal from Balogun was erased by an offside call, Pulisic again drove the left side and got a deflected pass to the trailing Balogun, who banged it home. Greg Beacham, Chicago Tribune, 13 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for call
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call
Verb
  • The group was met by a much smaller contingent of mostly men who appeared to make Nazi salutes and shouted anti-Muslim chants.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2026
  • One photo in the post showed Swift with her arm around Hargitay, 62, as other Knicks fans surrounded them, while a second snap captured them both shouting and cheering.
    Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • Cattle are one of the major sources of methane emissions around the world every year, and CRISPR in principle can dial that back by changing the genes in those bugs to reduce methane emissions potentially permanently.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 11 June 2026
  • Anyone who needs help finding a cooling center throughout the state can contact the United Way by dialing 211.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2026
Verb
  • Bald eagles, owls, hawks, falcons and vultures are all among the birds of prey visitors can see when visiting the 3-acre property on Lake Sybelia, which is one of 55 Audubon centers and sanctuaries nationwide.
    Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2026
  • After visiting the metro, however, the couple fell in love with the City of Fountains.
    Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • Madison Square Garden canceled its official Game 4 watch party amid a public dispute with city officials over security restrictions.
    Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
  • In a statement to the San Diego Union-Tribune, the event's producer Live Nation explained that the concert was canceled because Stewart had a recurrence of a sinus infection.
    Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026
Verb
  • But those most recent generations have known far more heartbreak than would really be considered fair for most other teams.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
  • The discovery is so surprising because even though AGNs are rich with gas and dust — the building blocks of planets — the turbulent conditions within the disks wouldn't generally be considered ideal for forming planets.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 June 2026
Verb
  • Especially Melanie, who was crying her foundation off before the vote was even announced.
    Bethy Squires, Vulture, 13 June 2026
  • His wife, Alicia Brown, posted a video on her verified Instagram page Sunday where she is seen crying while revealing what appears to be multiple stitches above and below her left eyebrow.
    Rodney Ho, AJC.com, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • Knights summoned to England for vengeance.
    James Horncastle, New York Times, 10 June 2026
  • As Heller reports, one professor was summoned to our Title VI office for wearing a Palestinian flag on her garment at an off-campus event.
    Jonathan Zimmerman, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • It’s estimated that there may have been as many as 10 million elk in North America at the time of European settlement.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 June 2026
  • However, xGC estimates that even with Lionel Messi, their roster doesn’t quite contain the same threat as teams like France and Spain.
    Ethan Douglas, New York Times, 10 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Call.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.

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