call 1 of 2

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

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5
as in to consider
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 to cry
to utter one's distinctive animal sound the dog called whenever it flushed a quail

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7
as in to summon
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 to estimate
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
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11
as in to order
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

call

2 of 2

noun

1
2
as in visit
a coming to see another briefly for social or business reasons we paid a call on the new neighbors the day after they moved in

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3
as in message
a communication by telephone give me a call as soon as you arrive, so I'll know you got there safely

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4
5
as in right
an entitlement to something you have no call to insult people

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as in demand
the state of being sought after especially for purchase there's not much call for woodstoves in this part of the country

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word call different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of call are cite, convene, convoke, muster, and summon. While all these words mean "to demand the presence of," call may be used less formally for summon.

called the legislature into special session

When can cite be used instead of call?

The words cite and call are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, cite implies a summoning to court usually to answer a charge.

cited for drunken driving

How do convene and convoke relate to one another, in the sense of call?

Convene is somewhat less formal than convoke.

convened the students

Where would convoke be a reasonable alternative to call?

The meanings of convoke and call largely overlap; however, convoke implies a summons to assemble for deliberative or legislative purposes.

convoked a Vatican council

When is muster a more appropriate choice than call?

In some situations, the words muster and call are roughly equivalent. However, muster suggests a calling up of a number of things that form a group in order that they may be exhibited, displayed, or utilized as a whole.

mustered the troops

In what contexts can summon take the place of call?

Although the words summon and call have much in common, summon implies the exercise of authority.

was summoned to answer charges

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 call
Verb
Marx himself would call DEI a classic case of ideology, a set of benign-seeming ideas that disguise the workings of the rulers, in this case empowered progressives. WSJ, 14 Feb. 2023 However, today most young people rarely call each other. Andrea Wigfield, CNN, 14 Feb. 2023
Noun
During Broadcom’s post-earnings call last month, Tan hinted at some new customers in a part of the business that competes with fellow Club name Nvidia’s broader offerings. Matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 8 Apr. 2025 The calls for Smith to run have come given the populist wave that returned Donald Trump to the office, and calls for a shakeup in the Democratic Party. Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for call
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call
Verb
  • By the time the chorus rolled around, the commuters were in full voice, shouting along (and filming the whole thing for posterity), as Fallon banged on a tambourine.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Others recalled him having stand-up rows, shouting, swearing, and jabbing his finger in the direction of co-workers.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • David Hochman: Being a private omakase chef sounds like a dream gig—white jacket, perfect settings, everything dialed in.
    David Hochman, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Iran’s theocracy has responded by dialing back hijab enforcement and easing restrictions on at least one political figure.
    Nasser Karimi and Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • More than this perhaps, as Sara Halpern, visiting assistant professor of history at St. Olaf college, wrote to me, the attack had a broader purpose.
    Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Novice stargazers can visit for a few hours, while more experienced stargazers can bring their equipment and sleep over at the Overnight Astronomy Observation Field.
    Regan Stephens, People.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • About 1,200 jobs are expected to be cut at NIH as part of the layoffs at the Health and Human Services Department, and the administration also has canceled hundreds of NIH grants to scientists around the country.
    Sara Moniuszko, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2025
  • Universal was fined $1.3 million by state regulators in 2013 for canceling customers’ policies without justification and shifting profits to affiliate companies.
    Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Rectangles of prospective dimensions are considered.
    Sarah K. Rich, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2025
  • This result is far from a disaster though, as key Flamengo players had just returned from a busy international break, and visitors Inter are also considered title contenders.
    Joseph O'Sullivan, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Izzie wasn't the only one crying along with the fans.
    Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • As predicted, most attempts ended in failure, with one participant even making the baby cry.
    Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Sammie’s music even summons traditional Chinese dancers, awakening Americanized Bo and Grace’s cultural heritage.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Trump summoned House Republicans to the White House for a midday meeting as the beleaguered speaker pulls out all the stops to nudge the process forward before lawmakers leave Thursday for a two-week spring recess.
    Lisa Mascaro and Kevin Freking, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Join 432 others in the comments View Comments Hu estimates that the current escalation could shave up to 2.5 percentage points off China’s economic growth for this year.
    Nectar Gan, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2025
  • That’s unlike any worldwide attention that has ever been paid to Kansas City. World Cup organizers in Kansas City also estimate 650,000 visitors will attend the six games at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium or visit the FanFest site.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Call.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.

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