calling 1 of 2

noun

ˈkȯ-liŋ How to pronounce calling (audio)
Definition of callingnext
1
as in cancellation
the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to the calling of the match was a disappointment to both players

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2
as in profession
the activity by which one regularly makes a living I think my true calling will be as a commercial artist

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calling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of call
1
as in shouting
to speak so as to be heard at a distance we could hear someone calling for help from the other side of the wall

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2
as in dialing
to make a telephone call to use this cell phone to call me if there's an emergency

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3
as in visiting
to make a brief visit the hospital posts the hours during which friends and relatives may call

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4
as in canceling
to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) the game was called on account of rain

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in considering
to think of in a particular way I wouldn't quite call that cheating, but it's not entirely ethical either

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6
as in crying
to utter one's distinctive animal sound the dog called whenever it flushed a quail

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7
as in summoning
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 estimating
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
as in asking
to demand or request the presence or service of rushed to call a tow truck operator when the car broke down

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10
as in naming
to give a name to we've decided to call the kitten "Molly"

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11
as in ordering
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
as in predicting
to tell of or describe beforehand somehow the political pundit called the race results within a mere percentage point

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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun calling differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of calling are business, employment, métier, occupation, pursuit, and work. While all these words mean "a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living," calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.

the ministry seemed my true calling

Where would business be a reasonable alternative to calling?

While in some cases nearly identical to calling, business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs.

the business of managing a hotel

In what contexts can employment take the place of calling?

The words employment and calling can be used in similar contexts, but employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer.

your employment with this firm is hereby terminated

When might métier be a better fit than calling?

The synonyms métier and calling are sometimes interchangeable, but métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.

acting was my one and only métier

When can occupation be used instead of calling?

The meanings of occupation and calling largely overlap; however, occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.

his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

When is it sensible to use pursuit instead of calling?

Although the words pursuit and calling have much in common, pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.

her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

When would work be a good substitute for calling?

While the synonyms work and calling are close in meaning, work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.

her work as a hospital volunteer

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 calling
Noun
Though Rome was not convinced (Columbus had not, to anyone’s knowledge, performed any miracles), in 1892, Pope Leo XIII did issue a special encyclical calling on all clergy in the Americas and in Europe to hold a special Mass each Columbus Day. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Sep. 2026 Glenn also took over defensive play-calling after firing Steve Wilks, who orchestrated one of the NFL’s worst units. — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 20 Sep. 2026
Verb
Consider contacting the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988, or visit here. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2026 Aquarius The open road is calling, urging you to put the pedal to the metal and visit places that remind you of your childhood and evoke the harvest time. — Lisa Stardust, Vogue, 22 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for calling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calling
  1. cancellation
  2. profession
  3. shouting
  4. dialing
  5. visiting
  6. canceling
  7. considering
  8. crying
Noun
  • Flight controllers can establish precise safety thresholds to reduce unnecessary launch cancellations in cloudy or light-rain conditions, minimizing costly operational delays.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Massive technological evolutions, including smaller drivers and active and the introduction of adaptive-noise cancellation, have allowed listeners to focus on their favorite music like never before—even on the go, away from home.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of cancellation
Noun
  • Fortich has already considered leaving the profession — or jumping ship to teach in closer-to-home Lee County, but her job security from so many years in the Miami-Dade County school district has anchored her here.
    — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The alien spends much of the runtime going by the alias of John Carpenter (Jesus's profession, same initials), and is ultimately betrayed by someone close to him, Helen's sleazy boyfriend Tom (Hugh Marlowe), fulfilling Judas's role in the story.
    — Richard Edwards, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of profession
Verb
  • The two of them spent the rest of the night pressed together in the crowded bar, shouting at each other to be heard over the sound of drunk youth.
    — Josephine Reisman, Vulture, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Kelce said lovingly before shouting out how quickly and thoroughly Swift picked up all there is to know about his sport.
    — Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of shouting
Verb
  • The good news is that dialing back the temperature doesn’t leave your washer short on cleaning power.
    — Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Variety reported in early September that Netflix is dialing up its commitment to meaningful theatrical releases, and will report box office numbers for the first time ever for six upcoming titles.
    — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of dialing
Verb
  • Cooper, for his part, acts all scared when Kat mentions visiting him and Gen in Fort Lauderdale.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2026
  • One example internationally is Ecco in Germany, where there is a dedicated site for German consumers who are visiting the Ecco resale site.
    — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of visiting
Verb
  • Companies will be required to provide a simple, accessible way to cancel a subscription through the same method used to sign up — making canceling as easy as signing up.
    — Lindsay Owens, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The Stanford researchers estimated that sellers can roughly double revenue because of consumer inertia, when people forget or put off canceling, and cancellation friction, when ending a subscription takes too much time or effort.
    — Barbara Booth, CNBC, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of canceling
Verb
  • Justices Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Sonia Sotomayor dissented, arguing that allowing the case to move forward prevents the lower court from considering Pike’s allegations from her childhood.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The Florida Department of Education is considering a new dress code policy for employees that puts restrictions on religious head coverings, Crocs and short skirts.
    — Ana Goñi-Lessan, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of considering
Verb
  • The investigation began May 4, 2025, when the city of Riverside officials received reports of a baby crying inside a dumpster.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026
  • This audience listened in awed silence, and by the end of the song, everyone around us was crying as well, before jolting upward in a spontaneous standing ovation — one of three.
    — James Gunn, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of crying

Phrases Containing calling

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call in
calling
calling down
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Cite this Entry

“Calling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calling. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on calling

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about calling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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