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
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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
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Recent Examples of called off
Sweeney and ex-fiancé Jonathan Davino called off their engagement in March 2025.
—
Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Why were Groundhog Day festivities called off in 2011?
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
The streamer’s annual party, which was called off last year due to the Los Angeles fires, is a hot-ticket event each Grammy year, welcoming roughly 1,500 industry attendees for a night of music and mingling.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 30 Jan. 2026
Several of the skiers who competed crashed; officials called off the rest of the race after Vonn’s spill.
—Outside, 30 Jan. 2026
Afterward, she was airlifted off the course, and the race was called off.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 30 Jan. 2026
Indiana school districts called off in-person learning for days after the storm.
—Evan Frank, IndyStar, 29 Jan. 2026
Fortunato Bas chairs the Alameda County Together for All (ACT) committee which began drafting the ordinances last fall amid the launch of a Bay Area immigration enforcement operation which was eventually called off.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2026
Most Memphis schools have called off classes for Wednesday, with some colleges having remote learning for another day as well.
—Jack Armstrong, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 28 Jan. 2026
Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
Why were Groundhog Day festivities called off in 2011?
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
The streamer’s annual party, which was called off last year due to the Los Angeles fires, is a hot-ticket event each Grammy year, welcoming roughly 1,500 industry attendees for a night of music and mingling.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 30 Jan. 2026
Several of the skiers who competed crashed; officials called off the rest of the race after Vonn’s spill.
—Outside, 30 Jan. 2026
Afterward, she was airlifted off the course, and the race was called off.
—Becky Sullivan, NPR, 30 Jan. 2026
Indiana school districts called off in-person learning for days after the storm.
—Evan Frank, IndyStar, 29 Jan. 2026
Fortunato Bas chairs the Alameda County Together for All (ACT) committee which began drafting the ordinances last fall amid the launch of a Bay Area immigration enforcement operation which was eventually called off.
—Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2026
Most Memphis schools have called off classes for Wednesday, with some colleges having remote learning for another day as well.
—Jack Armstrong, Memphis Commercial Appeal, 28 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for called off
Verb
-
Size of the Milan Ice Skating Arena rink Figure skating ice rinks are usually free of markings so that skaters can compete without being distracted.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
7 Feb. 2026
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While Duque wants thrifters to understand that price doesn't equal value, Rodriguez warns shoppers not to be distracted by appearance.—
Gabi De la Rosa,
Southern Living,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Sheen, a pioneering 20th century TV evangelist, had his 2019 ceremony canceled with just weeks’ notice due to concerns about his tenure as Rochester bishop.—
Nicole Winfield,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
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Local media reported that some provincial hospitals have canceled surgeries and outpatient transfers.—
Philip Wang,
Time,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Four small planes were diverted by the Air Force after breaching restricted airspace around the stadium, but the aircraft were never considered threats.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
4 Feb. 2026
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The revelation raised concerns about conflicts of interest in American foreign policy, especially given the scrutiny surrounding the US-UAE chip deal over worries the tech could be diverted to China.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
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According to the Humane Society of Greater Dayton, Derby and Summer are two Ohio terrier mix siblings who were part of a litter of six puppies discovered abandoned along a roadside and brought to a local shelter by a good Samaritan.—
Alex Perry,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
8 Feb. 2026
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Naturally, the remainder of the tour was abandoned and the royal couple immediately flew home from Kenya.—
Hope Coke,
Vanity Fair,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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On Friday, Ossoff asked for the plan to be scrapped.—
Lautaro Grinspan,
AJC.com,
9 Feb. 2026
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Also, when Camp Century was decommissioned around five years after Project Iceworm was scrapped, the Army left hazardous waste behind, such as up to 52,000 gallons of diesel and radioactive materials, residues from the small nuclear reactor that had powered the base.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Prior to this, in 2022, his mother – the late Queen Elizabeth II – revoked her second son's military associations and royal patronages in the wake of Giuffre's September 2021 lawsuit, which was later settled for an undisclosed sum.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
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Teachers who encourage students to walk out could have teaching certificates revoked and districts where students walk out will lose daily attendance funding.—
Jessica Ma,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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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
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This enables a safe recovery during training exercises or if a strike mission is aborted, a feature aimed at reducing losses during non-combat operations.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Mamdani repealed Adams’ executive order adopting the definition.—
Joseph Strauss,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Feb. 2026
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Less than a month later, according to the New York Times, the administration stopped defending the rule in court, then repealed it altogether.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Called off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/called%20off. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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