called

past tense of call
1
2
as in dialed
to make a telephone call to use this cell phone to call me if there's an emergency

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3
4
5
6
as in cried
to utter one's distinctive animal sound the dog called whenever it flushed a quail

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7
as in summoned
to bring together in assembly by or as if by command called all the night workers in for a meeting

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

8
as in estimated
to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement let's call that five feet for now, and we'll measure it out later

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9
10
11
as in ordered
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority the union president is refusing to call a strike

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12

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 called Meghan personally called animal rights attorney Shannon Keith, who runs the Beagle Freedom Project, after hearing about 4,000 beagles being rescued from overcrowded and unsanitary conditions at the Envigo breeding and research plant in Virginia. Audrey Schmidt, PEOPLE, 9 Aug. 2026 Five students between 12 and 13 years old were killed in what officials called the worst school shooting in decades. Mark Morales, CNN Money, 9 Aug. 2026 The device, called a programmable dynamic memtransistor (PDM), combines the memory function of a storage device with the computing function of a transistor. Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Aug. 2026 The new law prohibits drugmakers from restricting the number or types of pharmacies that hospitals and other providers can contract with to dispense medications to their patients through a federal program called the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 8 Aug. 2026 Tucked inside the home is a dedicated theater that Bishop called a standout even by luxury-listing standards. David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 8 Aug. 2026 For those who missed it, Kanter and White called the WNBA's bluff by both declaring their intention to enter next year's draft within hours of each other Friday evening. Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 Aug. 2026 Two of the three organizations had no idea until Anthropic called them. Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 Unbeknownst to David, the system, called WOPR—War Operations Plan Response—is in control of the American nuclear arsenal. Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for called
Verb
  • The staff member leading the group says the man cussed at them, shouted derogatory names and continued to reference guns.
    Olivia Young, CBS News, 31 July 2026
  • The Storm put out an apology after a team co-owner allegedly shouted insults at the girls during the game.
    Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • Ha and Lee are also dialed in, as is Sasha Calle as Val, a con woman Sugar recruits as his assistant and protégé.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Following the jobs report, traders dialed back expectations for a rate hike at the central bank's next policy meeting in September.
    Yun Li,Sean Conlon,Hugh Leask, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The Athletic visited The Cardinal last week, and the build-out for the event — including grandstands and other infrastructure — had not yet begun, which would be highly unusual for a golf tournament less than a month out.
    Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Decades after artists like Pablo Picasso and Jean Cocteau visited the town, in 1953, John Steinbeck wrote an ode to Positano for an 1953 issue of Harper’s Bazaar.
    Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The actor starred alongside Kyra Sedgwick on Call Your Mother, an ABC sitcom that was canceled after one season.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Flights to the island are regularly canceled and workdays have been shortened to adjust to the new reality of a Cuba without power.
    Andrea Rodriguez, Fortune, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Hamilton entered the race largely considered the frontrunner, despite only launching his campaign in April.
    ABC NEWS, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Packing for such a trip calls for extra care, as outfits are often thoughtfully considered.
    Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Birdie cried and slept and cried, then woke to an oily splotch on the pillowcase.
    Rachel Yoder, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026
  • At first site, Peters met Moses at the car door and both embraced and cried.
    Liz Crawford, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Verb
  • In one case, an employee was summoned out of her office just before a bullet struck the window in front of her desk.
    Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The tech behemoth briefly restricted a Facebook post by Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing students during the Gen Z protests in July, just days after regulators summoned the company over concerns about child-abuse content.
    Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The number of fatal encounters between hippos and humans are not known, but are estimated at a minimum of 500 deaths each year.
    Dennis Romero, NBC news, 8 Aug. 2026
  • In December 2024, the Pentagon estimated that China’s rocket force had boosted its missile supply by 50% in the preceding four years.
    Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Called.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/called. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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