calling 1 of 2

calling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of call
1
2
as in dialing
to make a telephone call to use this cell phone to call me if there's an emergency

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

7
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

12

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
Overall, though, the play-calling was solid Monday night, as Denver spread Cincinnati between the numbers and to the sidelines for most the contest. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 30 Sep. 2025 While fashion remained their calling, formal training wasn’t on the cards for them. Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
Leverson's attorney, Anthony Cotton, is arguing this is a victimless crime, as the photos in his client's case were AI generated, calling a state law banning the conduct unconstitutional. David Clarey, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025 Some are calling for a ban on Netflix. Greg Evans, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for calling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calling
Noun
  • My vocation as a writer and editor and my avocation as a gardener and composter go hand in hand.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Work is less about vocation and more about earning a paycheck while people search for purpose elsewhere.
    John Winsor, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This is the time to be surrounded by fans decked out in purple and orange, shouting at the screens and celebrating every three-pointer.
    Tiffany Acosta, AZCentral.com, 3 Oct. 2025
  • These steals are worth shouting about, especially since so many are 2025 Best of Beauty winners or have been thoroughly tested by our editors.
    Lily Wohlner, Allure, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The coach came to Toronto normalizing the team’s defensive style, dialling things down from the activity that Nick Nurse demanded in his final years with the franchise.
    Eric Koreen, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Scammers often use auto-dialing software, blasting out thousands of calls a day.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Chavarria finds that visiting offices and not being afraid to share her own story is one of the best ways to learn what her employees need.
    Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Silence blanketed the visiting clubhouse when the doors opened to the media late Monday night.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • And considering Maye’s 17 sacks this season — already half his total from 2024 — McDaniels had plenty of reasons to justify a conservative approach.
    Jeff Howe, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Panelist Alex Minard, NCTA’s vice president and lead legislative counsel, said 24 states are considering legislation to address this problem.
    Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Daria spotted the crying woman from the consulate, now in a pink bikini and a green mesh coverup, waiting her turn to leap onto the beach.
    Catherine Lacey, New Yorker, 5 Oct. 2025
  • Fans are screaming, crying, planting flowers in the shape of a ‘T,’ and rearranging birthdays and baby deliveries just to be in theaters.
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • There is no military strength without moral strength, no good outcome when summoning tempers alongside uncertainty and rifles, and no margin for error in what may come next.
    Keith Wilson, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
  • The trailer already gives you an idea of the memes that will spawn from this movie, between Grogu using that telescope, summoning a bowl of chips with the Force, riding on a mini speeder with a bunch of Babu Friks, or eating space popcorn at a sporting event with dad.
    Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In 2013, Nature Communications published a study estimating that, in the United States, cats kill somewhere between one and four billion birds each year, and perhaps five times as many small mammals.
    Rebecca van Laer September 30, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Most stowaways result in fatalities, with the Federal Aviation Administration estimating more than 76% end in deaths.
    Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Calling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calling. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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