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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of call off
Only part of the orchard had been pruned when Sarb Johl called off the job.
—
Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 26 Feb. 2026
While the pursuit was called off at one point, officers noticed that the suspect had stopped in the 37000 block of Ash Road.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
On Tuesday, more than 45% of flights out of the three major airports were canceled, and about one-third of incoming flights were called off.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
Scores of school districts have already called off classes for the remainder of the week.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for call off
Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 26 Feb. 2026
While the pursuit was called off at one point, officers noticed that the suspect had stopped in the 37000 block of Ash Road.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
On Tuesday, more than 45% of flights out of the three major airports were canceled, and about one-third of incoming flights were called off.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 25 Feb. 2026
Scores of school districts have already called off classes for the remainder of the week.
—Lance Reynolds, Boston Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for call off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off
Verb
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As a result, few distributors produce and release ASL or even open caption versions for theatrical screening — which their critics consider distracting, obstructive, or visually unappealing — forcing deaf audiences to rely on devices that may be limited in number or fail.—
Abbey White,
IndieWire,
27 Feb. 2026
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What Scream 7 really wants is to make as much money as possible — and to distract viewers from the firing of Barrera, which derailed the original plans for the film and inspired calls for a boycott.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Airlines around the world have been forced to cancel flights through multiple cities in the area, affecting thousands of global travelers.—
Karla Cripps,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
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Qatar Airways said flights to and from Doha had been canceled and didn’t provide an estimate for when service would resume.—
Matthew Ormseth,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The entrance of Thea Elvsted (Celeste Arias), a school girl acquaintance, both unsettles and diverts Hedda.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
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Money that should be reinvested into improving services and expanding operations is instead diverted to legal defense and settlements, especially in a system where these cases rarely, if ever, go before a jury.—
Nick Payzant,
Oc Register,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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No one deserves to be abandoned, let alone by someone who supposedly loves them.—
Charles Trepany,
USA Today,
28 Feb. 2026
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What is to stop ICE from requiring teachers and school administrators to abandon their responsibility to keep students safe, or to sever trusting relationships with their students by providing information about their immigration status, family or residence?—
Tony Lux,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Morgan started throwing off the mound a bit after transferring to Hope International University and continued to dabble in pitching in the West Coast summer league in Portland, Ore.—
Jeff Sanders,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Feb. 2026
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Authorities in the San Francisco Bay Area posted video of a rescue of a family from a burning apartment building over the weekend, in which a toddler and dog were thrown off a balcony to waiting police officers below.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The air strikes forced airlines to scrap flights after Israel, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait and Bahrain closed their airspace.—
Timia Cobb
Breaking News Reporter,
Dallas Morning News,
1 Mar. 2026
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Greece temporarily suspended asylum claims from migrants arriving via the Libya route for three months, scrapped certain amnesty provisions and introduced mandatory imprisonment for asylum seekers whose claims are rejected.—
LEFTERIS PITARAKIS,
Arkansas Online,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But earlier this week, New Orleans Criminal District Court Judge Simone Levine revoked his release and ordered that bail be set at $100,000.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
1 Mar. 2026
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The administration argues that the department can grant or revoke the temporary protections and judges should not interfere.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After months of planning, the SBU was forced to abort the mission and bring its drones back to shore.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2026
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As Silva revealed, an attempt to join a light session on Saturday was aborted when Robinson could not run properly.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Call off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20off. Accessed 5 Mar. 2026.
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