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
The vehicle had just driven out of Wayne County into Monroe County when Flat Rock called off its pursuit.
—
Paula Wethington, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
After more than three weeks without finding the bear responsible for the attack, officials called off the search.
—Emily Wanderer, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2026
After more than three weeks without finding the bear responsible for the attack, officials called off the search.
—Emily Wanderer, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
Horse races and soccer matches have been called off because of snow and frost, a power failure caused by ice closed Glasgow’s subway, and Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport was closed for a time on Monday.
—Mike Corder, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for call off
Paula Wethington, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
After more than three weeks without finding the bear responsible for the attack, officials called off the search.
—Emily Wanderer, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2026
After more than three weeks without finding the bear responsible for the attack, officials called off the search.
—Emily Wanderer, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
Horse races and soccer matches have been called off because of snow and frost, a power failure caused by ice closed Glasgow’s subway, and Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport was closed for a time on Monday.
—Mike Corder, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for call off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off
Verb
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In Oklahoma, House Bill 1597 states that staying within 25 feet of law enforcement, correctional, probation, parole, or EMS personnel with the intent to harass, interfere, or distract them while conducting their duties can be considered a misdemeanor if an initial warning is ignored.—
Josh Kelly,
Oklahoman,
30 Jan. 2026
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This unprecedented attack on the First Amendment and transparent attempt to distract attention from the many crises facing this administration will not stand.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That band faces a similar situation as Mariachi Joya Azteca, with at least two major events canceled in 2025.—
Juan Cordoba,
Arkansas Online,
12 Jan. 2026
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The Anker 737 Power Bank keeps multiple devices running and charging, from your phone to your noise-canceling headphones, without weighing down your bag.—
Claire Gallam,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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For many animals, making offspring means eating more, moving less and/or diverting energy away from growth and survival.—
Melissa Cristina Márquez,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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But Barclays’ Levy warned Musk’s plans to publicly launch SpaceX could divert attention away from Tesla, either through splitting the Tesla retail investor base or diverting Musk’s own focus away from Tesla and onto SpaceX.—
Pia Singh,
CNBC,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Restaurant tables sat empty, business windows went dark and students’ desks were abandoned in several cities across the country Friday amid a nationwide strike in protest of the federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
31 Jan. 2026
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According to charging documents, officers later found Seymour’s apartment unlocked and abandoned, her vehicle parked at Salt Lake City International Airport, and a notebook outlining plans to discard phones and documents.—
Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As long as that business continues to dominate in mobile, exceed expectations and throw off billions of dollars of cash a quarter, Zuckerberg is likely to get plenty of leeway to pursue his AI ambitions.—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
29 Jan. 2026
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The trailer gives a taste of just how dire the situation is, as Stephanie’s is totally thrown off without her gum.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Nearly two decades later, it was officially scrapped on January 23, 2026, following the completion of a $1 billion technology upgrade.—
Connor Sturges,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Jan. 2026
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The return game was scheduled for GCU the following November, then scrapped when the NCAA moved back the start of the college basketball season because of the pandemic.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While multiple sources familiar with the holiday events deny online rumors that Mar-a-Lago threatened to revoke the memberships of guests who took photos of Barron over the holidays, insiders tell PEOPLE that there's an unspoken rule about how to treat the most private member of the first family.—
Linda Marx,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
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Colbert was sentenced to 25 years in prison in Orleans Parish in May, after a judge revoked her probation in a similar but unrelated case.—
PJ Green,
Kansas City Star,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The plane was reportedly traveling at 103 mph when it was instructed to abort the takeoff, according to local outlet KSAT.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
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Pilots on the Mesa Airlines flight decided that the separation between their craft and the one taking off was insufficient and initiated a go-around, in which a landing is aborted.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Call off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20off. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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