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
Relevance
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
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 off
Advertisement Advertisement Then in June, the project was called off.
—
David Gelles, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
After divorcing his fourth wife, Jerry Hall, in August 2022, the media tycoon announced his engagement to Ann Lesley Smith on March 20, 2023 (the pair called off their engagement just a few weeks later).
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
The Washington Post first reported that the military academy called off this month’s event, saying the cancellation would allow West Point to instead focus on preparing enrollees for their future service.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 8 Sep. 2025
The uncertainty over the federal government’s plans for Chicago led Pritzker to call off plans to join a state trade mission to Japan.
—Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for call off
David Gelles, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
After divorcing his fourth wife, Jerry Hall, in August 2022, the media tycoon announced his engagement to Ann Lesley Smith on March 20, 2023 (the pair called off their engagement just a few weeks later).
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 9 Sep. 2025
The Washington Post first reported that the military academy called off this month’s event, saying the cancellation would allow West Point to instead focus on preparing enrollees for their future service.
—Brett Samuels, The Hill, 8 Sep. 2025
The uncertainty over the federal government’s plans for Chicago led Pritzker to call off plans to join a state trade mission to Japan.
—Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for call off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off
Verb
-
But one way to distract and soothe your temperamental toddler might be through music.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Molina, who is fascinated by silver screen legend Ingrid Luna (Jennifer Lopez), distracts himself and Valentín with a recounting of his favorite film of hers — The Kiss of the Spider Woman.—
Maureen Lee Lenker,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
He's witnessed countless episodes of passengers wearing noise-canceling headphones and earbuds walking through airport terminals, oblivious to their surroundings and putting themselves and others in danger.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
That proposal was canceled after bipartisan opposition in the Senate.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
North was convicted in 1989 on three felony charges for helping to arrange the illicit sale of weapons to Iran and divert the proceeds to fund a secret war against anti-communist Contra rebels in Nicaragua.—
Josh Meyer,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The hotel diverts little to no waste to landfills, thanks to an ORCA food-waste digester installed in 2018, and has phased in in-house water bottling and refillable bathroom dispensers to eliminate single-use plastics.—
Lauren Mowery,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
These factors should never be a cause to abandon principles, but this is exactly what is occurring.—
Kimberly Ross,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
This would come as Carr also plans on abandoning an effort to raise the agency's benchmark for high-speed internet from 100Mbps to 1Gbps.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And in Garcia’s long interception return, Benitez was harassed by the defense, flushed out of the pocket and forced to throw off balance.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Lòpez threw a bullpen session Friday, his second time throwing off the mound since surgery.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Costs ballooned from £33 billion to over £100 billion, and the northern section was scrapped entirely.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Sep. 2025
-
The club could have George Valera, Chase DeLauter, Nolan Jones, Noel and Angel Martínez scrapping for opportunities in the spring.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In March, Gabbard revoked security clearances for former Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, former Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and former national security adviser Jake Sullivan, along with other Biden administration officials.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Sounders staff member Steven Lenhart, who joined the club this season as a mental health advisor, had his credential privileges revoked for the remainder of the 2025 MLS regular season and postseason.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Still, in March, a collision alarm sounded in the cockpit of a Delta Air Lines jet when Air Force jets conducting a flyover at Arlington National Cemetery got too close, and in May, an Army helicopter circling the neighboring Pentagon, caused two passenger jets to abort landings.—
Aaron Cooper,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
-
But the Clinton administration aborted the idea out of fear that an attack could result in retaliation against South Korea and a broader war, and instead sought a diplomatic solution.—
VIPIN NARANG,
Foreign Affairs,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Call off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20off. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share