call off

verb

called off; calling off; calls off

transitive verb

1

: to draw away : divert

2

: cancel

Synonyms

• abstract
• detract
• distract
• divert
• throw off

Examples of call off in a Sentence

she was about to tell me the big news when her attention was called off by the arrival of another guest

called off the party after half of those invited couldn't make it

Recent Examples on the Web

Tehran called off nuclear talks that Washington had said were the only way to halt Israel's bombing, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the attacks were nothing compared with what Iran would see in the coming days. —Alexander Cornwell, USA Today, 15 June 2025

Terence Patrick/Netflix Terence Patrick/Netflix Ultimately, the couple called off the engagement a few days before their wedding day. —Monique Wilson, Glamour, 12 June 2025

Then, in August 2024, the pair called off their engagement — just before RHOM picked up cameras. —Charna Flam, People.com, 12 June 2025

California politicians must call off their rioting mob. —Amanda Castro hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for call off

• ashraf
• checkoff
• cutoff
• falloff
• handoff
• kickoff
• layoff
• liftoff
• markoff
• markov
• payoff
• playoff

Kids Definition

call off

verb

1

: to draw away : divert

call off a dog

2

: cancel sense 2a

call off a meeting