callback

noun

call·​back ˈkȯl-ˌbak 

plural callbacks

1

: a return call

Coming up with a solid reason for one more callback, finding a way to get hold of someone "impossible" to reach, getting the order in before the competition can even quote prices—these are what professional selling is all about …

—Jack Falvey

I know how this works, so I won't hold my breath. Meanwhile, I'm papering my cubical walls with memos to myself reminding me I'm still waiting for a callback from thus-and-such public-information office.

—Denise Civiletti

2

a

: recall sense 5

product callbacks

b

: an instance of requesting or directing someone to return: such as

(1)

: a recall of an employee to work after a layoff

… worked at Fairfield for two years and was involved in the layoff and callback earlier this year.

—Max Showalter

(2)

: a second or additional audition (as for a theatrical part)

… will be weeding through the 50 young actors displaying their talents this afternoon to arrive at a short list of those deemed worthy of an immediate callback interview.

—Richard Conniff

3

: something (such as a comment, image, or character) that evokes an earlier instance

"Most of the characters are going to be new. We do have a few callbacks, a couple of cameos that kind of come up from previous games. …"

—James Lopez

—often used with to

… Emmy-winning 30Rock, which is shot through with inside jokes and tightly woven callbacks to past episodes …

—James Poniewozik

… there are callbacks in the show to the events taking place in the movie.

—Rayan Sayyed

… Connelly and Cruise also share a scene on the back of a motorcycle that is a visual callback to one of the most famous images from the original film …

—Zach Seemayer

[Serena Williams'] beaded hoop earrings were a callback to the beaded braids she wore in her youth.

—Sandra E. Garcia and Antonio de Luca

Examples of callback in a Sentence

She got constant callbacks from the salesman even after she asked him to stop calling.

With the latest callback, the factory will employ 30,000 workers.

If he used better materials, he wouldn't have so many callbacks.

Recent Examples on the Web

Every mini-adventure is neatly aligned with one another, and even the predictably sweet ending is saved from becoming too saccharine by a callback to the many, many shades of white available for a dryer. —Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 29 Sep. 2024

The crowd laughed at the callback to one of the most notorious moments in recent awards show history. —Carly Thomas, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Sep. 2024

Taxpayers will also be able to request a callback, during which IRS customer service representatives can provide technical support and answer basic tax questions in English and Spanish. —Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024

Roughly 67 million Takata airbags have been recalled in the U.S. since 2013, the largest callback in automotive history. —Matthew Dolan, USA TODAY, 20 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

callback

noun

call·​back ˈkȯl-ˌbak 

1

: a return call

2

: recall entry 2 sense 5