1
as in distracted
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 canceled
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 called off
Faced with innocent bystanders being hurt — even killed — during the chases, some agencies have at times called off pursuits in the interest of safety.
—
Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
The latest example comes with Florida State, as Georgia and the Seminoles have mutually called off their home-and-home series, Florida State announced Thursday.
—Connor Riley, AJC.com, 7 May 2026
Many other districts also called off classes, including Douglas County and Boulder Valley.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Also canceling Monday was Dolly Parton, who announced that her Las Vegas residency for later this year was being called off entirely after being postponed earlier.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 4 May 2026
Negotiations continued by phone after Trump called off his envoys’ trip to Pakistan last week, the president said.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
In early April rescuers called off the effort to save the creature, which had repeatedly become stuck on sandbanks and seemed in bad physical shape.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 30 Apr. 2026
Fans remained optimistic by gathering in the city and singing along to her top hits and trading their signature friendship bracelets after the performances were called off.
—Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
That was the plan until DeCosta called off a blockbuster trade and all hell broke loose, with much of the public vitriol directed his way.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
The latest example comes with Florida State, as Georgia and the Seminoles have mutually called off their home-and-home series, Florida State announced Thursday.
—Connor Riley, AJC.com, 7 May 2026
Many other districts also called off classes, including Douglas County and Boulder Valley.
—Christa Swanson, CBS News, 6 May 2026
Also canceling Monday was Dolly Parton, who announced that her Las Vegas residency for later this year was being called off entirely after being postponed earlier.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 4 May 2026
Negotiations continued by phone after Trump called off his envoys’ trip to Pakistan last week, the president said.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
In early April rescuers called off the effort to save the creature, which had repeatedly become stuck on sandbanks and seemed in bad physical shape.
—K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 30 Apr. 2026
Fans remained optimistic by gathering in the city and singing along to her top hits and trading their signature friendship bracelets after the performances were called off.
—Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 28 Apr. 2026
That was the plan until DeCosta called off a blockbuster trade and all hell broke loose, with much of the public vitriol directed his way.
—Michael Silver, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for called off
Verb
-
His father, Brady Kiser, said he was momentarily distracted when the incident occurred and that Emilie was away at the time.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
1 May 2026
-
People are distracted, have too many priorities, and will not see every single email, social post, or ad.—
Daren Smith,
IndieWire,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Book of Mormon has canceled this week’s Tuesday and Wednesday performances due to a fire that damaged the Eugene O’Neill Theatre on Monday morning.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
4 May 2026
-
Which meant that Special was renewed and canceled on the same phone call.—
Ryan O'Connell,
HollywoodReporter,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
The Minnesota Attorney General's Office said a temporary restraining order is in place to protect the nonprofit assets from being diverted.—
Ashley Grams,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
-
Traffic was being diverted onto Blackwell Road.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
And Sylvie, who still gazes with utmost tenderness at a black-and-white photograph, taken during her time abroad, of a nameless wailing Russian child, has permanently abandoned her own daughter by refusing to visit her.—
James Wood,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Those plans were set aside, however, when Diamantis arrived in federal court earlier this month for a hearing and abandoned a plan to change his plea to guilty.—
Andrew Brown,
Hartford Courant,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
LeVota, who recently scrapped plans to run for a full term, proposed the idea in a letter to four state senators from Jackson County, top Governor’s Office staff and the leaders of the Missouri House.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
4 May 2026
-
Family shopping jaunts that were once leisurely affairs are being scrapped in favor of quick trips during off-hours to grab essentials and go home, suffering business owners say.—
Roger Vincent,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Licensees apply for renewals every eight years, and licenses are virtually never revoked.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Bahrain revoked citizenship from 69 individuals accused of being sympathetic to Iran.—
Dominic Dudley,
semafor.com,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That flight had twice aborted takeoff and declared an emergency due to an odor onboard that was sickening flight attendants.—
Aaron Cooper,
CNN Money,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Republic Airways said the flight, operating as American Airlines Flight 4464, aborted its initial landing attempt and performed a go-around during its approach into JFK.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But Capone didn’t feel Chicago would be better off until Prohibition was repealed.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
The fee was suspended in 2017 and was set to be repealed entirely in 2031 as part of a legislative deal to extend the cap-and-trade program, which collects money by auctioning permits to emit greenhouse gases.—
Susan Shelley,
Oc Register,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Called off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/called%20off. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
