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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of call off
Starship wasn't able to get off the ground on Thursday, however; several technical issues cropped up late in the countdown, and SpaceX had to call off the attempt.
—
Mike Wall, Space.com, 22 May 2026
Discord also appears to be growing among House Republicans, who called off a vote last night on a resolution limiting the president's war powers.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 22 May 2026
The graduation was called off due to the fight, according to WTVG.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
In January, Giambattista Valli and Artémis announced that the brand would call off its couture show.
—Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for call off
Mike Wall, Space.com, 22 May 2026
Discord also appears to be growing among House Republicans, who called off a vote last night on a resolution limiting the president's war powers.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 22 May 2026
The graduation was called off due to the fight, according to WTVG.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 22 May 2026
In January, Giambattista Valli and Artémis announced that the brand would call off its couture show.
—Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 20 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for call off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off
Verb
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The opening salvo of the assault is intended to distract the Russians and permit four other robots to get behind enemy lines.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
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Meanwhile, Johnson insisted to reporters in Chicago that his international excursion will not distract him from the pressing issues back home, including the final week of Springfield’s legislative session.—
Alice Yin,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2026
Verb
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Italian authorities have canceled upcoming concerts by Kanye West and Travis Scott that had been scheduled to take place in July in the northern city of Reggio Emilia, citing security concerns.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
31 May 2026
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When a user cancels a promotional subscription, the system flags the promo as redeemed, and it can’t be reinstated, even by Google’s support staff.—
Paul Monckton,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Ukraine has retained roughly the same interception rates for drones as before the recent escalation, downing around 90% of them each month and using electronic warfare to divert some munitions away from populated areas.—
Lauren Kent,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
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Because the city did not lock in strict legal rules for spending the new funds, even though the hotel tax has historically helped fund local arts programs, leaders could technically divert the cash to other priorities later.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Kuna fires out, abandoned home burns Smoke poured out of two fires in Kuna on Thursday, said James Trumble, the Kuna Rural Fire District’s assistant chief.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
29 May 2026
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And then there’s the fact that in the season finale’s final minutes, set in 2020, the Soviet spaceship MAPC-94, abandoned in space after its engines failed decades ago, turns itself on.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Chip stocks, however, stumbled; bitcoin is hovering at its weakest since the war began, private credit is throwing off sparks again — and a flesh-eating parasite has turned up in Texas.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
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Data centers primarily use water to cool server racks, which throw off massive amounts of heat.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
4 June 2026
Verb
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And let just say as a Southern, Democratic governor, to be able to give voice to Southern Democrats being left out, left behind, sometimes looked down on, but scrapping our way back to a seat at the table.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
31 May 2026
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The fund was the topic of a heated conference meeting among Senate Republicans earlier this month, and forced GOP leaders to scrap plans to fund immigration enforcement.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Then, Vibe Smoke Shop ownership will have the chance to explain why its business license should not further suspended or revoked entirely, as explained by DLCP's order.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
31 May 2026
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In North Carolina, permits are immediately revoked if a restaurant scores below 70%.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
Verb
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The pilots acted quickly to abort the takeoff and avert a crash.—
The Denver Post Editorial Board,
Denver Post,
13 May 2026
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This work kept the first moon landing from being aborted, even though the onboard computer was overloaded.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Call off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20off. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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