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
Police called off their pursuit of Cook over safety concerns, but found his vehicle abandoned in a neighborhood less than a mile away.
—
Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 11 Sep. 2025
To call off the project now, as many of its detractors in the White House desire, would waste years of advancement.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
While visiting their mom's grave on the fifth anniversary of her death, the estranged brothers talk for the first time since Conrad's last-minute confession of love spurred Belly to call off her wedding to Jeremiah, and amidst the anger, Jeremiah gave Conrad his pseudo permission to pursue Belly.
—Julia Moore, People.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Advertisement Advertisement Then in June, the project was called off.
—David Gelles, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for call off
Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 11 Sep. 2025
To call off the project now, as many of its detractors in the White House desire, would waste years of advancement.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
While visiting their mom's grave on the fifth anniversary of her death, the estranged brothers talk for the first time since Conrad's last-minute confession of love spurred Belly to call off her wedding to Jeremiah, and amidst the anger, Jeremiah gave Conrad his pseudo permission to pursue Belly.
—Julia Moore, People.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Advertisement Advertisement Then in June, the project was called off.
—David Gelles, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for call off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off
Verb
-
But Henry gets distracted by a massive prison explosion, allowing Jonah to plunge a hidden knife into his chest.—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
18 Sep. 2025
-
This might mean dropping a product line that’s profitable but distracts from your core business, or saying no to a good opportunity that isn’t aligned with your growth strategy.—
Minna Hu,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Mahtomedi High School officials canceled Friday night’s football game against Bloomington Kennedy, saying the Washington County Sheriff’s Office had advised them to do so due to ongoing law enforcement activity in the area.—
Kristi Miller,
Twin Cities,
20 Sep. 2025
-
On social media, people have posted photos of them canceling their subscriptions to streaming services Disney Plus and Hulu in support of Kimmel.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The study also found that nearly half the respondents — highest on record — had diverted investments planned for China to other regions, primarily Southeast Asia.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
-
However, those meetings will coincide with anti-Trump demonstrations that could divert attention away from the diplomatic business at hand.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Tesla was taken to Hollywood Tow after a person reported that it had been abandoned, NBC Los Angeles previously reported.—
Andrew Blankstein,
NBC news,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The city finally towed the sedan after a citizen complained that the car had been abandoned for more than 72 hours.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For instance, this could manifest as a sudden attraction that disrupts your conservative dating life or an unexpected expense that completely throws off your tidy budget.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Lack of ample sleep throws off your body's internal clock, triggering a surge in stress hormones that cause blood vessels to narrow and blood pressure to rise.—
MD Published,
Verywell Health,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Hinds scrapped with Utah’s Ben McCartney in the third tilt of the evening, early in the third period.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
23 Sep. 2025
-
Importantly, Hungary scrapped the earlier €500,000 direct residential property purchase route at the start of this year, meaning investors can no longer qualify by buying real estate outright.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Brendan Carr, the FCC’s chairman, had threatened to revoke the licenses of the network’s affiliates who continued to air Kimmel’s program in light of comments the host made about the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk earlier in September.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
22 Sep. 2025
-
If Heskett is convicted, his certification will be revoked.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Still, in March, a collision alarm sounded in the cockpit of a Delta Air Lines jet when Air Force jets conducting a flyover at Arlington National Cemetery got too close, and in May, an Army helicopter circling the neighboring Pentagon, caused two passenger jets to abort landings.—
Aaron Cooper,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
-
But the Clinton administration aborted the idea out of fear that an attack could result in retaliation against South Korea and a broader war, and instead sought a diplomatic solution.—
VIPIN NARANG,
Foreign Affairs,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Call off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20off. Accessed 25 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share