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
The city had intended to offer the real estate for sale or lease until budgetary woes led Mayor Todd Gloria to call off the plan to secure a new City Hall.
—
Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
That ruling concluded Taylor was not within his rights to call off the deal last year.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 2 Apr. 2025
The couple met with Pope Francis in a stop that was originally called off out of concern for the Pope's health and palace sources described that time as a highlight for them.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025
An online petition demanding NYU cancel the event reached more than 4,500 signatures and 40 organization sign-ons before it was called off.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for call off
Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
That ruling concluded Taylor was not within his rights to call off the deal last year.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 2 Apr. 2025
The couple met with Pope Francis in a stop that was originally called off out of concern for the Pope's health and palace sources described that time as a highlight for them.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025
An online petition demanding NYU cancel the event reached more than 4,500 signatures and 40 organization sign-ons before it was called off.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 10 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for call off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off
Verb
-
Too often, however, the temptation to blame individuals or groups for housing ills distracts from the actual debate and prevents all stakeholders from discovering their mutual interests.—
Matt Frazier,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
-
The scientists now plan on developing the technology further, which will include boosting its ability to filter out distracting background noises such as those produced by body movements.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Trump skipped three times during his last presidency (the 2020 affair was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic).—
Jay Stahl,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Organizers and the Kennedy Center have canceled a week’s worth of events celebrating LGBTQ+ rights for this summer’s World Pride festival in Washington amid a shift in priorities and the ousting of leadership at one of the nation’s premier cultural institutions.—
Ashraf Khalil,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Welch diverted a large portion of the loan money for the personal benefit of the couple, according to court documents.—
NWA Democrat-Gazette,
Arkansas Online,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Those hotels have hospitality standards on par with many of the finest in the world, but no alcohol is served, with focus instead diverted to food, coffee, and experiences.—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
24 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
At this point, what started as a throwaway joke has grown into something vaguely earnest — too big to fail and too enmeshed in the neighborhood to be abandoned in good conscience.—
Nate Rogers,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2025
-
Biden’s Justice Department ultimately abandoned the gambit and left Trump to head to trial, where a jury ordered him to pay $83.3 million.—
Zach Schonfeld,
The Hill,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The delayed engagement is also throwing off some of the couple's other big life plans.—
Erin Clack,
People.com,
24 Apr. 2025
-
After having started an AOL chat message friendship with President George W. Bush, Rumi is kidnapped from his home and thrown off a plane into Iraq, with the president himself directing the child to help the U.S. military track down and kill Osama Bin Laden.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Otherwise, the Browns would scrap the trade and take Ward themselves.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
-
Authorities are also reportedly debating scrapping the tariff on aircraft leases.—
Chloe Taylor,Ganesh Rao,
CNBC,
25 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Expunging those records, which international students rely on to remain in the U.S. legally, is different from revoking visas.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
-
The media changes celebrated by Trump has raised concerns among some in the industry who fear that access to reporting the truth will become increasingly difficult as credentials are revoked and outlets too favorable of the president may not provide full coverage.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
In January, several people were injured after a Delta flight aborted its takeoff at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, forcing about 200 passengers to evacuate the plane through emergency slides.—
Stephen Smith,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Despite the mishap, Blue Origin officials have insisted that the capsule is designed to safely abort a spaceflight by ejecting from the rocket and deploying parachutes early if needed – as happened in 2022.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
12 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Call off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20off. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share