1
as in to distract
to draw the attention or mind to something else
she was about to tell me the big news when her attention was called off by the arrival of another guest
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to cancel
to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to)
called off the party after half of those invited couldn't make it
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of call off
Rodgers and Woodley were engaged in 2021, but called off their wedding plans in 2022 and later broke up.
—
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Law enforcement called off the chase because of safety concerns, but deputies later found the Chevrolet at a gas station in Georgetown, according to the affidavit.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 4 Mar. 2026
Bri McNees and Connor Spies mutually decided to call off their wedding 48 hours before heading to the altar, per Netflix.
—Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Mar. 2026
The wedding plans were dashed just six months after Pitt’s proposal, when the couple called off their engagement.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for call off
Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Law enforcement called off the chase because of safety concerns, but deputies later found the Chevrolet at a gas station in Georgetown, according to the affidavit.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 4 Mar. 2026
Bri McNees and Connor Spies mutually decided to call off their wedding 48 hours before heading to the altar, per Netflix.
—Haadiza Ogwude, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Mar. 2026
The wedding plans were dashed just six months after Pitt’s proposal, when the couple called off their engagement.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for call off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off
Verb
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Players and coaches have consistently complained about a lack of traction, in addition to concerns about the LED lights being distracting and lines being hard to make out on the floor.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
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Sitting in the audience, Styles' mere presence repeatedly distracted the actor as the camera kept panning away from him for the beloved pop-rock star.—
Kathleen Perricone,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Naval air stations in the Central Valley city of Lemoore and El Centro in Imperial County canceled public air shows planned for this month out of safety concerns.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
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To avoid this, cancel and sign in to YouTube on your computer.—
Jack Fink,
CBS News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Saudi Arabia is diverting tankers to its southern Red Sea coast, while Oman’s key export terminal was evacuated over safety concerns, disrupting exports, and two tankers were hit in Iraqi waters.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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Some flights have been repeatedly diverted.—
Zach Levitt,
New York Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Uncompensated seizure under the land-expropriation law can only be pursued under narrow circumstances—when land is unused or has been abandoned, for example—and the program seemingly has yet to seize any property.—
Boyce Upholt,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
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Richard Grenell, the longtime Republican foreign policy adviser who oversaw changes at the Kennedy Center that prompted many artists to abandon the iconic performing arts venue, will step down as the institution's president.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Two hours before Thursday night’s Cactus League game, Snell threw off the mound in front of a group of reporters and fans at Camelback Ranch.—
Jack Vita,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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That level of anticipation — highly unusual for a March 6 matchup featuring one team that is well outside playoff contention — seemed to throw off both teams’ shooters in the early going.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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It had supposedly been made in the nineteen-forties, for an Italian countess or an English lady, then scrapped, and afterward either smuggled out of the workroom by a starry-eyed seamstress or, with the atelier head’s approval, given to one of the in-house models.—
Han Ong,
New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2026
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In September, the agency wrote in a letter to CPS leadership that the district had just three days to scrap the Black Student Success Plan and change policies supporting transgender and gender nonconforming students.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Unfortunately, this amendment was reversed by claims that the film industry in Colorado would collapse and Sundance would not come to Colorado if those funds were revoked.—
Bob Marshall,
Denver Post,
8 Mar. 2026
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The caucus and the Sikh Coalition had originally filed a lawsuit in December 2025, alleging California did not follow the proper process and broke state law by revoking the licenses.—
Ashley Sharp,
CBS News,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His first attempt was aborted after a phone call with his worried mother, and the second and third attempts were derailed because the team officials suspected his intentions and dropped him from the squad.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
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Crosby was viewed as the player who would do it, but when that deal was aborted, the Ravens quickly pivoted to Hendrickson.—
Dianna Russini,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Call off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20off. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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