1
as in to distract
to draw the attention or mind to something else
she was about to tell me the big news when her attention was called off by the arrival of another guest
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2
as in to cancel
to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to)
called off the party after half of those invited couldn't make it
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Recent Examples of call off
The event was abruptly called off after UHG leadership learned of the killing.
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Bertha Coombs,dan Mangan, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2024
In February 2022, the former couple called off their engagement but briefly reconciled before splitting again that April.
—Ashley Hume, Fox News, 4 Dec. 2024
The four fall concerts Pink postponed last month — including one in Milwaukee — have been called off.
—Piet Levy, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
SpaceX has not yet provided a more specific reason for why the booster catch was called off.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for call off 
Bertha Coombs,dan Mangan, CNBC, 6 Dec. 2024
In February 2022, the former couple called off their engagement but briefly reconciled before splitting again that April.
—Ashley Hume, Fox News, 4 Dec. 2024
The four fall concerts Pink postponed last month — including one in Milwaukee — have been called off.
—Piet Levy, Journal Sentinel, 21 Nov. 2024
SpaceX has not yet provided a more specific reason for why the booster catch was called off.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 20 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for call off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off
Verb
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Be clear about your priorities and don’t let unnecessary features distract you.Rhett Power, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
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Go down the middle road, and split up to distract the team, and learn the shortcuts to run around the map as fast as possible.Rahul Majumdar, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
Verb
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While appearing on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast, the host asked the Shazam! actor if he got canceled for leaning right in the election.Lynette Rice, Deadline, 8 Dec. 2024
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The Japan Times reported that Ms. Nakayama had canceled an appearance at a Christmas concert in Osaka, Japan, scheduled for that same day, citing health issues.Alex Williams, New York Times, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
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According to Doggett, air traffic controllers have reported more than 50 incidents involving private planes that were diverted and could have ended up on a collision course with a commercial airplane.Bianca Moreno-Paz, Austin American-Statesman, 11 Dec. 2024
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There has been no official statement about what type of force the passenger attempted to use to divert the aircraft and where the passenger had attempted to take the plane once assuming control.Sean Neumann, People.com, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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If the department’s predictions are correct, the U.S. would be essentially abandoning any pretense of trying to limit climate change.Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2024
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The Claridge Hotel’s former casino sits abandoned as well.Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 18 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The big question will be if the cold throws off the passing game, while neither snow nor major winds are in the forecast.David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 27 Nov. 2024
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And then … karma, who isn’t held off idly or easily, put sand in long snapper Tyler Ott’s arms and threw off the timing of what most of us think is the easiest thing to do on a football field: kick an extra point.David Aldridge, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Because of the complexity of the mission - tactical testing of new weapons - things like wind speed and direction, cloud cover and precipitation might have scrapped it.Jim Clash, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
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In September, the manufacturer scrapped its national trial after results showed the medication worked no better than the placebo.Cindy Krischer Goodman, Sun Sentinel, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Both Trump and Vice-President elect JD Vance have suggested scaling back or even revoking some legal avenues for immigration, leaving even some with legal status feeling in limbo.Luis Melecio-Zambrano, The Mercury News, 8 Dec. 2024
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His medical license was revoked in late November 2023 — nearly two years after he was first charged.Lisa Schencker, Chicago Tribune, 6 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Though women can also abort a pregnancy taking only misoprostol, according to Planned Parenthood.Alyssa Goldberg, The Courier-Journal, 13 Nov. 2024
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According to a SpaceX spokesperson, this even surprised them because the expectation was that the Super Heavy would either crash or be forced at the last second to abort the landing and dump itself into the Gulf of Mexico.David Szondy, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Call off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20off. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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