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
Anyone who would like to get connected to treatment, or knows someone who does, can call 1-800-563-4086 or visit connectgnh.org at any day or time. Hartford Courant, 14 Feb. 2023 Breakouts might call for the Salicylic + Green Tea Exfoliating Cleanser and Aloe + Algae Lightweight Gel Cream, whereas dry skin might crave a boost of moisture from the Hyaluronic + Arnica Hydrating Serum. Lisa Desantis, Allure, 14 Feb. 2023
Noun
Callbacks for both shows will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Birch Tree Communities; come prepared and dressed for a dance call. Eric E. Harrison, Arkansas Online, 19 Apr. 2025 President Trump’s unprovoked attack on higher education was a call to action which has been answered by Harvard and leaders from over 100 other schools across nearly 40 states. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 19 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for call
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call
Noun
  • In any case, despite critics’ cries of greenwashing and corporate astroturfing, there is still value to these devices.
    Kat Merck, Wired News, 22 Apr. 2025
  • This tender and slow hour isn’t for the restless, but a cathartic cry waits for those who make it to the end.
    Christian Holub, EW.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Health systems are using these tools to document patient visits, allowing doctors to have natural conversations with patients rather than typing notes on a computer.
    Gil Press, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
  • No one has paid me a visit or tried to intimidate me.
    David Browne, Rolling Stone, 26 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The night was filled with family, powerful messages — and of course soaring vocals, incredible costumes and masterful choreography.
    Caché McClay, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • The High Priestess asks you to listen to the subtle messages from your inner voice and pay attention to the signs around you.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • With Zero Trust, businesses must verify every access request before granting entry, ensuring that security remains a top priority at every level of digital interaction.
    William Jones, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
    CBS News, CBS News, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • On issues ranging from education policy and voting rights to congestion pricing, the series of rulings and developments marked the latest legal setbacks for an administration battling nearly 200 lawsuits in court.
    Peter Charalambous, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2025
  • But there are at least hundreds of others, among them the 299 sent to Panama and 200 to Costa Rica, who have been deported without basic due process and denied the right to seek asylum.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The court’s decision is expected to turn on whether charter schools, which are publicly funded but have private operators, are public schools under the law.
    Bart Jansen, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • The Lovers arrive to suggest that a key relationship or decision will take center stage this month.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 May 2025
Noun
  • That volume is masking deteriorating demand from key sectors - particularly domestic manufacturing, which drives more than 60% of big rig ton miles, and ocean imports.
    Lisa Baertlein, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
  • ServiceNow’s Performance And Prospects Due to strong public and private sector demand, ServiceNow surpassed expectations for first-quarter earnings and revenue and raised its second quarter outlook, reported the Journal.
    Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The sartorial duo sees tailoring not just as a trade but as a calling.
    Shelton Boyd-Griffith, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Clooney held a fundraiser just days before Biden’s disastrous debate performance last June, which ultimately led Clooney to write an op-ed calling on the president to step aside.
    Lauren Irwin, The Hill, 22 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Call.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

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