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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of call off
Wendy Davis was called for a foul on the last play of the game but after a consultation between the two officials – one of whom was Kantner – Kantner called off the foul and the game was over.
—
Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2025
In October 2021, the couple called off their engagement months after welcoming daughter Ocean in March.
—Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 17 Mar. 2025
After the woman was rescued, a Fort Worth Fire Department dive team continued searching the river for the infant or other possible victims, but no one else had been found when the car was pulled out of the water and the search was called off late Saturday night, police said.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2025
The Vikings held a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning with Geary at the plate when the game was called off due to rain, hail, lightning and then tornado warning sirens going off.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for call off
Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2025
In October 2021, the couple called off their engagement months after welcoming daughter Ocean in March.
—Vanessa Etienne, People.com, 17 Mar. 2025
After the woman was rescued, a Fort Worth Fire Department dive team continued searching the river for the infant or other possible victims, but no one else had been found when the car was pulled out of the water and the search was called off late Saturday night, police said.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2025
The Vikings held a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning with Geary at the plate when the game was called off due to rain, hail, lightning and then tornado warning sirens going off.
—Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 20 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for call off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off
Verb
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Europe is distracted by Mr. Trump’s trade war, and Mr. Netanyahu has consolidated his coalition’s majority in Israel’s Parliament, giving him more political space to act.—
Michael D. Shear,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
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Don't be distracted by extra information (whether visual, computational, or otherwise).—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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January/February’s installment was also scrapped for financial reasons (though the Los Angeles wildfires would have canceled the tour anyway).—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2025
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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
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The trustees opposed have previously expressed concern that the financial incentives offered to Crown would divert tax dollars away from local governments and other taxing bodies, like the school district.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Apr. 2025
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American Airlines flight to Tokyo from New York was diverted to Dallas, Texas for ‘maintenance issue’ Flight Aware data shows an American Airlines flight from New York City to Tokyo get diverted to Dallas, Texas on Monday after experiencing a maintenance issue, nearly 7 hours into the flight.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Heading them is none other than Robert Keller, who wasn’t killed after all, and now blames his big bro for abandoning him.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
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The Indonesian government was floating a moratorium to stop the construction of new hotels, villas and nightclubs in Bali, in an effort to curb over tourism—an idea that was abandoned at the start of the year.—
Michelle Tchea,
Robb Report,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Living room layout mistakes can throw off the entire experience of a space.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
2 Apr. 2025
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That last bucket includes YouTube Primetime Channels (including NFL Sunday Ticket), channel memberships, VOD, and creator monetization tools throwing off a share of proceeds to YouTube.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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January/February’s installment was also scrapped for financial reasons (though the Los Angeles wildfires would have canceled the tour anyway).—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
2 Apr. 2025
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The bill passed in the Senate last session and was included in an original continuing resolution in the House but was scrapped during negotiations.—
Miranda Nazzaro,
The Hill,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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His parole was revoked, and he was returned to prison.—
Jason Kravarik,
CNN Money,
2 Apr. 2025
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Trump's executive order would revoke citizenship for children born on U.S. soil to undocumented immigrants or individuals with temporary immigration status.—
Jason D. Greenblatt,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Although Hague is completing his second spaceflight, the astronaut has actually launched three times: A rocket mishap in 2018 forced him and a Russian crewmate to abort their mission shortly after liftoff.—
NBC News,
NBC News,
19 Mar. 2025
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The probe comes amid a series of safety incidents and a week after an American Airlines flight arriving at Ronald Reagan airport in Arlington, Virginia, was forced to abort a landing in an effort to avoid another aircraft.—
Louis Casiano,
Fox News,
3 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Call off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20off. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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