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
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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
The star called off the show just before it was set to kick off in Kaseya Center as thousands gathered to see Gaga perform.
—
Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
The actress called off their wedding in March after months of split rumors.
—Gillian Telling, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Some student activist groups and civil society groups called off protests on Monday, fearing a harsher crackdown from authorities.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 1 Sep. 2025
Some students and civil society groups called off their protest on Monday, citing fears of heightened security measures imposed after deadly riots across the country on the weekend, Reuters reported.
—Kathleen Magramo, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for call off
Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 3 Sep. 2025
The actress called off their wedding in March after months of split rumors.
—Gillian Telling, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
Some student activist groups and civil society groups called off protests on Monday, fearing a harsher crackdown from authorities.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 1 Sep. 2025
Some students and civil society groups called off their protest on Monday, citing fears of heightened security measures imposed after deadly riots across the country on the weekend, Reuters reported.
—Kathleen Magramo, CNN Money, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for call off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off
Verb
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That will distract any views of the neighbors’ patios or houses that might linger until the shrubs fill in.—
Neil Sperry,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Sep. 2025
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Some medications can help distract the brain, and those are usually tried first.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In the last few years, Beyoncé, Pink, and Noah Kahan, among others, have had concerts canceled or delayed by extreme lightning, rain, or wildfire smoke.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
6 Sep. 2025
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On social media, Marquette announced that all athletic events for the weekend would be canceled, and a special mass for the school community was held on Saturday afternoon.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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And major studios are making fewer prestige films of the kind that once used Toronto as a launching pad, preferring to divert more resources to action-heavy blockbusters and family fare.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
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Talk of bringing in the National Guard is less a solution than a distraction — a show of force that diverts attention away from the deeper investments communities need.—
Debra Gittler,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Needless to say, progressive Democrats did not respond to those companies’ overtures by abandoning Trader Joe’s and prosecco to guzzle Buds at Wally World.—
Graham Hillard,
The Washington Examiner,
5 Sep. 2025
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The Commission was also unimpressed by Jackson continuing to promote SPIS’ data around the location on the pitch and timing of Paqueta’s bookings during the game during cross-examination, despite the fact that the FA had abandoned this evidence.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Without it, in theory, the player might feel thrown off or less secure in their serve, which, in turn, could affect the trajectory of the point (and potentially the game, and then the set, and then the match, because in tennis, it all snowballs.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
5 Sep. 2025
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Perhaps there’s something salutary about being thrown off-balance, the novel suggests.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The cruise line previously scrapped stops there until October, amid ongoing violence in the country.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
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Bayrou called the vote in a bid to push through an unpopular 44 billion euros savings plan that includes scrapping two public holidays and freezing spending.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN Money,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After recently being told by the state officials that her personalized license plate was revoked because it is not classified as free speech, a Tennessee woman is appealing the decision to the United States Supreme Court.—
Angele Latham,
The Tennessean,
3 Sep. 2025
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South Korean memory chipmakers SK Hynix and Samsung also had their VEU privileges revoked on Friday, according to a statement on the Federal Register.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Joe Biden aborted his re-election bid last year after a public meltdown on a debate stage.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
2 Sep. 2025
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Under the president’s new blueprints for NASA, the agency looks set to depend on Elon Musk’s outfit to loft future Moon explorers aboard the SpaceX Starship from the Kennedy Space Center as SLS flights are aborted.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Call off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20off. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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