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
Prison officials called off the lethal injection when the state’s execution team tried for nearly an hour, but could not find a suitable vein for an IV in the 73-year-old prisoner’s body.
—
Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 7 Feb. 2025
The store called off the sale and launched a two-day online lottery for Tuesday, with the result to be announced later.
—Chris Lau, CNN, 6 Feb. 2025
But Bush prevailed by a narrow margin in the Electoral College because the Supreme Court in effect awarded him the electoral votes of Florida by calling off a weeks-long effort to recount the vote there.
—Ron Elving, NPR, 18 Jan. 2025
However, two sources familiar with the planning said Wednesday the Aurora operation was called off temporarily due to media leaks.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for call off 
Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 7 Feb. 2025
The store called off the sale and launched a two-day online lottery for Tuesday, with the result to be announced later.
—Chris Lau, CNN, 6 Feb. 2025
But Bush prevailed by a narrow margin in the Electoral College because the Supreme Court in effect awarded him the electoral votes of Florida by calling off a weeks-long effort to recount the vote there.
—Ron Elving, NPR, 18 Jan. 2025
However, two sources familiar with the planning said Wednesday the Aurora operation was called off temporarily due to media leaks.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 29 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for call off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off
Verb
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View Comments Musk has always been distracted by his other businesses, like SpaceX, The Boring Company, Neuralink, and his social media platform, X, and is now even more distracted by his role reshaping the federal government.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN,
6 Feb. 2025
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But the media and the chattering class will focus on it for a few days and Trump will have succeeded in distracting everyone from the real story—the billionaires seizing government to steal from regular people.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Thousands of artists have called on Christie’s to cancel an upcoming auction of art made by artificial intelligence.—
George Nelson,
ARTnews.com,
11 Feb. 2025
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As part of a broader immigration crackdown, his administration quickly canceled all appointments people had made through a U.S. government app.—
Julie Watson,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The plane was diverted to St. John's, Newfoundland, at about 2:30 a.m. on Friday, according to Flightradar24, so paramedics could assist the ill passenger.—
Kris Van Cleave,
CBS News,
16 Feb. 2025
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In yet another signature White Lotus twist, the show may divert from its original trajectory of going to a new continent each season by revisiting an old one, literally the old continent.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
12 Feb. 2025
Verb
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They were allegedly left abandoned in an apartment when their family were evicted.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
8 Feb. 2025
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That effort now appears to have come to an abrupt end as USAID contractors around the world prepare to abandon critical projects and lay off staff.—
Jake Bittle,
WIRED,
8 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Going from zero to 100 will probably throw off your digestion in the short term, but rest assured that your body will adjust—and just be prepared to play a less-than-pleasant waiting game in the meantime.—
Caroline Tien,
SELF,
7 Feb. 2025
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Several riders were thrown off by their horses, and the other riders jumped off, police said.—
Ryan Ballogg,
Miami Herald,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
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If this sounds familiar, that’s because a live-action Dungeons & Dragons series was originally plotted at Paramount+ in January 2023, before ultimately being scrapped in May of the following year.—
Andy Swift,
TVLine,
13 Feb. 2025
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The Lincoln one-cent coin could be scrapped, with Trump ordering the Treasury Department and U.S. Mint to stop producing the coins.—
Russ Wiles,
USA TODAY,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Finance/technology Trump revoked former President Biden's artificial intelligence guardrails and has since signed executive orders aimed at bolstering the country's competitiveness in AI and tech.—
Avery Lotz,
Axios,
11 Feb. 2025
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Trump’s order revokes a Biden policy phasing out federal purchases of single-use plastics in food service, events and packaging by […] Subscribe to continue reading this article.—
Carson Swick,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The renovation plan for that pyramid was aborted last February after an international outcry.—
Karen K. Ho,
ARTnews.com,
4 Feb. 2025
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But SpaceX aborted an attempt to again catch the booster back at Starbase due to a problem with sensors on the launch pad's tower.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
17 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 22 Feb. 2025.
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