call off

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

Examples 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 off The frantic search for a Norwegian Cruise Line passenger who went overboard has been called off. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 28 Dec. 2024 Young formed the Chrome Hearts earlier this year after he was forced to prematurely call off his summer tour with Crazy Horse due to an undisclosed health situation. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 28 Dec. 2024 The maneuver, which has only been pulled off once during the October demonstration, was called off in the most recent test in November, which President-elect Donald Trump attended. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 11 Jan. 2025 In the Greenbrier case, $49 billion New York City private equity firm Fortress Investment Group bought the $20 million defaulted loan (which is junior to Carter’s claims) and called off the resort’s auction. Christopher Helman, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for call off 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off
Verb
  • After all, we too are drawn to violent, meaningless spectacle to distract us from matters of substance.
    Chris Vognar, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
  • Police warned those in attendance to keep their hands down so as not to distract from the formal proceedings.
    Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • During the 2020 presidential campaign, Biden had promised to cancel $10,000 in federal student loan debt for most borrowers.
    Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 20 Jan. 2025
  • His input as captain goes into the decision to cancel morning skates, to cancel practices.
    Arpon Basu, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Created in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, Prevent tries to intervene in the lives of people suspected of being vulnerable to radicalization, with the hope of diverting them from possible terrorism.
    Megan Specia, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Three planes were diverted away from Kazan while the restrictions were in place, the airport said.
    David Brennan, ABC News, 20 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • But the consistent presence of drug rehabilitation and criminal offenses dominating the background of potential candidates for the award led the league to eventually abandon it.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2025
  • It had been abandoned but the girl, Blessing Aoci, was nowhere to be found.
    Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Several key mistakes could throw off the accuracy of blood pressure readings for people who take them at home.
    Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 12 Jan. 2025
  • Some of these Californians in homes that burnt like this were thrown off of their policies, their fire policies – GOV.
    NBC News, NBC News, 12 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • North Carolina’s bill was met with such anger on behalf of the LGBTQ community that some elements were quickly scrapped, and the remainder was left to lapse in 2020.
    The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 Jan. 2025
  • But when Trump scrapped many of the nation’s climate pledges, it was met with intense backlash.
    Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The legal authority to revoke birthright citizenship is a matter of significant debate.
    Justin Gest, Newsweek, 21 Jan. 2025
  • The order particularly directs the Interior Department to reinstate drillings rights there that were revoked under the Biden administration and seeks to review a lease sale there by the Biden administration that ultimately flopped.
    Rachel Frazin, The Hill, 21 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • During Starship's last test flight in November, the maneuver was aborted.
    Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 13 Jan. 2025
  • An aircraft aborted takeoff at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) on Friday morning, with passengers using emergency slides to deboard, according to a statement the airport posted online, which noted that four passengers reported minor injuries.
    Alex Nitzberg, Fox News, 10 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near call off

Cite this Entry

“Call off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20off. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.

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