call 1 of 2

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2
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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3
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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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6
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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
Strickland stated that the member's behavior during the call was perceived as confrontational, leading to McMahon's scolding. Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025 However, on the call, Boasberg signaled that some of the five Venezuelans who were detained over the weekend were already onboard repatriation flights. Ashleigh Fields, The Hill, 16 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for call
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call
Verb
  • The proud dad even shared John’s grades, showing screenshots of his 100% test scores in business law while shouting out Hill for their son’s scholastic success.
    Avalon Hester, People.com, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Players swig from beer cans and shout old-timey sayings at one another.
    Jason Mastrodonato, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Acer dialed down the gamer-centric look and color scheme with a clean logo on an all-black lid.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Dollar Tree and Dollar General have hit trouble as low-income customers struggle to afford basic necessities and dial back their spending and competition from Walmart and other chains increases.
    Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 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
  • Fans attending night games can visit the store before doors open, from noon to 4 p.m.
    Camila Pedrosa, Sacbee.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Canada's Department of National Defence told Newsweek that the program is not canceled and remains in early review stages.
    Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 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
  • In Anaheim, the Angels’ Ron Washington was heartily booed by the hometown fans for summoning infielder Nicky Lopez to record the final out in an 8-1 blowout loss to the White Sox (who set the major league record for losses last year).
    Bill Madden, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Both were summoned after an hour, and repeatedly offered a counter-attacking threat, particularly through Caicedo, whose dribbling ability was simply too much for Barcelona’s defenders.
    Michael Cox, The Athletic, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Heading into the weekend, the film was estimated to collect $100 million globally.
    Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 23 Mar. 2025
  • The $180 billion gaming industry now dwarfs the size of traditional Hollywood movies and television (estimated at $100 billion annually), and has become the preferred pastime for younger generations.
    Matt Craig, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Call.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

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