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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of call off
When Zelensky visited the U.S. in late February, he was expected to sign off on a deal that would give the U.S. access to Kyiv’s critical mineral supply in exchange for some protection amid its war with Russia, but Trump called off talks after the two leaders clashed.
—
Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 25 Apr. 2025
The Argentinian Football Association called off all games on Monday to mourn the pope's passing.
—Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2025
In the face of mounting criticism and legal opposition, the proposal was ultimately called off on March 14, with the school district citing financial hurdles.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2025
The tariff overhang – a completely optional campaign to tax global production and supply-chain efficiency that can be called off any time by one man – mocks efforts to offer good forecasts.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for call off
Alex Gangitano, The Hill, 25 Apr. 2025
The Argentinian Football Association called off all games on Monday to mourn the pope's passing.
—Morgan Winsor, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2025
In the face of mounting criticism and legal opposition, the proposal was ultimately called off on March 14, with the school district citing financial hurdles.
—Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Apr. 2025
The tariff overhang – a completely optional campaign to tax global production and supply-chain efficiency that can be called off any time by one man – mocks efforts to offer good forecasts.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for call off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off
Verb
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Critics suggested that Johnson timed the announcement to distract from the fact that he’d just been fined for attending a party in defiance of his own COVID restrictions, though the policy had been months in the making.—
Jon Allsop,
New Yorker,
16 May 2025
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Keep yourself occupied during the early days and weeks to distract your mind and heart.—
Anna Pulley,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2025
Verb
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But this sort of work would require close collaboration with Chinese researchers, at just the time when those collaborations are being scrutinized or canceled.—
Daniel Engber,
The Atlantic,
20 May 2025
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Panama's comptroller general and attorney general are now seeking to cancel CK Hutchison's concessions to its two Canal Zone ports.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 May 2025
Verb
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Dozens of flights were diverted that afternoon, including to Allentown and Philadelphia.—
Daniel Wood,
New York Times,
9 May 2025
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The barriers and dams also diverted the lava flow towards a safe direction.—
Monica Cull,
Discover Magazine,
9 May 2025
Verb
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President mulls joining Russia-Ukraine peace talks, expects ceasefire With Russian forces now in control of close to a fifth of Ukraine, Putin has held fast to his longstanding demands for Kyiv to cede territory, abandon its NATO membership ambitions and become a neutral country.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
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When Lollapalooza first announced that Olivia and Sabrina Carpenter were headlining this summer (along with Tyler, the Creator and Rüfüs Du Soul), with Abrams also in a top slot, there was the predictable gnashing of teeth that Lollapalooza is abandoning its precious rock heritage.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
17 May 2025
Verb
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Strider has been out three weeks since straining his right hamstring, but kept his arm in shape initially throwing off a knee while the leg healed.—
David O'Brien,
New York Times,
13 May 2025
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Linda is thrown off the cliff (a scene that is both grotesque and endlessly ridiculous).—
Hannah Madlener,
Glamour,
2 May 2025
Verb
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The decision to scrap the AI diffusion rule, on the other hand, is a helpful one in the short run — reflected by Nvidia’s 3% pop in the final hour of trading Wednesday.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
8 May 2025
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The Space Launch System (SLS) moon rocket and the Orion spacecraft, both in development in one form or another since 2006, and both intended for crewed travel to the moon, will be scrapped too.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
6 May 2025
Verb
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The Administration sought to revoke the immigration status of thousands of international students in April.—
Solcyré Burga,
Time,
20 May 2025
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But weeks into Trump’s second term, Noem revoked the TPS extension for a large group of Venezuelans, effective April 7.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
19 May 2025
Verb
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Then, on May 1, SpaceX aborted a six-engine test-firing before reaching its planned 60-second duration.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2025
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The plan to kill Commanders and save the girls, however, was aborted when June and Moira’s undercover mission for the Mayday resistance group led to them killing a Guardian (a Gilead soldier).—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Call off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20off. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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