call off

verb

Definition of call offnext
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
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 off The car was found submerged in the river at the base of the road, but nightfall forced the recovery to be called off until the next day, officials said. — Caleb Lunetta, The Mercury News, 19 Feb. 2025 The White House did not respond to questions about why the news conference was called off. — Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 21 Feb. 2025 The White House did not immediately respond to questions about why the news conference was called off. — Justin Spike, Chicago Tribune, 20 Feb. 2025 San Diego lifeguards, San Diego Fire-Rescue personnel and Coast Guard crew looked for more than 52 hours and covered a nearly 460-square-mile area before being called off Sunday evening. — Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for call off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off
  1. distract
  2. cancel
  3. divert
  4. abandon
  5. throw off
  6. scrap
  7. revoke
  8. abort
Verb
  • That means having a high-quality microphone and video camera so others aren’t distracted by your technology. 8.
    — Joseph Liu, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Investors looking to distract themselves with a drink might, in fact, feel even more pain.
    — Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of distract
Verb
  • Under President Barack Obama, the department took steps to cancel accreditors for a now-defunct for-profit college chain, but the Trump administration blocked the move.
    — Collin Binkley, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Also canceled: one study looking at reducing maternal mortality in New York and another on treatments for long COVID, The New York Times reports.
    — Erica Pandey, Axios, 21 Mar. 2025
Definition of cancel
Verb
  • However, with the AI and crypto booms diverting attention and resources to cutting-edge domains, CRUD businesses have become less common.
    — Mohan Kumar, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Article 23 is very explicit in outlining that a High Contracting Party, such as Israel, shall allow the free passage of humanitarian supplies, but that is if, and only if, there are no serious reasons to believe these supplies are being diverted from their destination or used for military purposes.
    — William Lambers, Newsweek, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of divert
Verb
  • The decision, however, has been the subject of apparent criticism from SpaceX CEO Elon Musk and President Donald Trump, who have claimed Williams and Wilmore were abandoned by the Biden administration.
    — Jackie Wattles, CNN, 18 Mar. 2025
  • After Rubio’s orders to stop work, the cleanup crews were forced to abandon the site, and, for weeks, all that was covering the contaminated dirt were tarps, which at one point blew off in the wind.
    — Anna Maria Barry-Jester, ProPublica, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of abandon
Verb
  • On a hilltop in the center, some soldiers made last stands until they were slaughtered, others threw off their uniforms and tried to hide in civilian homes or U.N. bases.
    — Emmet Livingstone, The Dial, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Lawn mowers, chainsaws, and even dragging trailer chains can throw off sparks.
    — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of throw off
Verb
  • Shortly after the editorial page decision was announced nearly two weeks ago, another Post story on the issue, by media columnist Erik Wemple, was scrapped, according to the Gene Pool, a blog written by former Post writer Gene Weingarten.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Trump Should Work with Congress on BSA Reform Congress could amend the BSA to maintain its record-keeping requirements while scrapping its reporting requirements.
    — Norbert Michel, Forbes, 11 Mar. 2025
Definition of scrap
Verb
  • Batched denials issued in silence In 2023, Afghan SIV applicants began to see their COM applications denied or their former COM approvals revoked in swathes.
    — Beth Bailey, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Masked agents reportedly arrested Suri outside his Arlington, Virginia, home on Monday, informing him that his visa had been revoked, according to a legal filing cited by Politico.
    — Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Definition of revoke
Verb
  • The Kiwi driver tried his best to improve his lap times in Q1 but ran wide at Turn 15, leading him to abort his flying lap.
    — Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
  • An American Airlines jet aborted a landing at Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., to avoid a collision with another plane on Tuesday morning, aviation officials said.
    — Stephen Sorace, Fox News, 26 Feb. 2025
Definition of abort

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Cite this Entry

“Call off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20off. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.

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