Meaning of call in English

call

verb

/kɔːl/ us

/kɑːl/

call verb (NAME)

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B1 [ T + obj + noun ]

to give someone or something a name, or to know or address someone by a particular name:

They've called the twins Edward and Thomas.

What's that actor called that we saw in the film last night?

His real name is Jonathan, but they've always called him Johnny.

What's her new novel called?

I wish he wouldn't keep calling me "dear" - it's so patronizing!

call someone names

If a person, especially a child, calls someone names, they address that person with a name that is intended to be offensive:

Tom's worried that if he wears glasses at school the other children will call him names.

More examplesFewer examples

Mars is sometimes called the Red Planet because of its distinctive colour.
I think he was called Blake, if I remember correctly.
What have they decided to call their new baby?
He was very rude to your father - he called him an old fool.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Names and titles

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call verb (PHONE)

A2 [ I or T ]

to use a phone to talk to someone:

He called (you) last night when you were out.

She called (me) this morning at the office and we had a brief chat.

I've been calling all morning but I can't get through.

Do you think we should call the police?

call collect US ( also reverse (the) charges)

to make a phone call that is paid for by the person who receives it:

She got his phone number from another inmate and called collect.

More examplesFewer examples

If I'm not home when you call, leave a message on the machine.
I gave him my number and he promised to call me.
Probably the best thing to do is to call them before you go.
I tried calling you but the line was busy.
You could always call Susie and see if she might babysit.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Communications - by telephone

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Communicating & keeping in touch

call verb (CONSIDER)

[ T + obj + noun ]

to consider someone or something to be:

He knows a lot of people, but only one or two that he'd call close friends.

One sandwich and a lettuce leaf - I don't call that a meal!

I'm not calling you a liar - I'm just suggesting that you misunderstood the facts of the situation.

call something your own

to consider something as belonging to you:

I don't aspire to anything very grand - I just want a place I can call my own.

More examplesFewer examples

How can you call those people your friends?
Some people call English a mongrel language because it has a mixture of Germanic and French words.
It's a suburb of Manchester - I wouldn't really call it Manchester.
He's quite attractive but not what I'd call gorgeous.
He had a few tufts of hair on his chin, but you could hardly call it a beard.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Guessing, supposing and suspecting

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call verb (SHOUT/CRY)

B1 [ I or T ]

to say something in a loud voice, especially in order to attract someone's attention, or (of animals) to make a loud, high sound, especially to another animal:

Did you call?

Do I hear someone calling for you?

[ + speech ] "Hey, you! Come over here!" she called.

The blackbird called to its mate.

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

to shout

shoutThere's no need to shout, I can hear you just fine.
yell"What are you doing?" he yelled.
bellow"Listen to me!" he bellowed.
hollerUS She came running inside, hollering about being chased by a bear.
call"I'm up here," he called.

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call for order (also call someone/something to order)

to ask people in a meeting to stop talking so that the meeting can continue:

She called for order/called the meeting to order.

[ T ]

in some sports, to say what the next play will be:

The coach calls the plays from the sideline.

The catcher calls pitches by signalling with his fingers.

The setter usually calls the serve receive ball with a signal, then makes other calls verbally.

[ T ] US

to describe a sports game as it is happening, especially on radio or television:

He called the game for ABC.

Vin Scully called Dodgers games for 67 years, on both radio and TV.

See also

commentate

More examplesFewer examples

She sometimes calls out in her sleep.
I thought I heard you call from upstairs.
I called to her but she didn't hear me.
"We're over here!" she called.
I thought I heard someone call my name.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Shouting & screaming

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

American football

Broadcasting in general

call verb (ASK TO COME)

C1 [ I or T ]

to ask someone to come to you:

I keep the bedroom door open in case the children call for me in the night.

I was called to an emergency meeting this morning.

At school she was always being called into the headteacher's office.

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

to ask someone to come to you

callThe children called for him at night.
call outPlease avoid calling out the doctor unless it is an emergency.
send forSomeone has already sent for a doctor.
summonI was summoned to the headmaster's office.
summonsIf you are summonsed and do not attend court, you may be found guilty of contempt of court.
hailShe walked to the corner and hailed a cab.

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More examplesFewer examples

I thought I heard my daughter calling for me.
He was called to the phone.
She called me over and showed me the report.
You can't just call people across the office and expect them to come running!
He called me into his office and asked me to explain my decision.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Inviting & summoning

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call verb (VISIT)

[ I ]

to visit someone, especially for a short time:

The electrician must have called round this morning when we were out - there's a note on the door mat.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Visiting

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call verb (DECIDE ON)

C1 [ T ]

to decide officially to have a particular event or take particular action:

The managing director has called a meeting to discuss pay levels.

The papers are predicting that the prime minister will call an election in the spring.

It's reckoned that the unions will call a strike if management will not agree to their demands.

See also

call a halt to something

[ T ]

If a sports official calls something, they make a decision about an action by a player or about a shot (= a kick, hit, or throw of the ball):

[ + obj + adv ] The line judge called the ball out.

The umpire called the delivery a wide.

Baseball umpires call balls and strikes.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Managing and organizing

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Refereeing & judging in sport

Idioms

call someone's bluff
call your shot
call a spade a spade
call into question
call it a day
call it a night
call it quits
call the shots
something is calling you

Phrasal verbs

call back
call someone back
call by
call for someone
call for something
call forth something
call someone in
call something in
call someone/something off
call something off

More phrasal verbs

call (in) on someone
call on someone
call on something
call (something) out
call someone out
call someone over
call someone up
call something up

call

noun

/kɔːl/ us

/kɑːl/

call noun (PHONE)

A2 [ C ]

the act of using the phone:

give someone a call Give me a call when you get back from your holiday.

make a call I've just got a couple of calls to make.

get a call I got a call from an old college friend last night.

If there are any calls for me, could you write them down next to the phone?

return someone's call That decorator you called about painting the house - did he ever return your call?

The radio station received a lot of calls complaining about the show's bad language.

Before six o'clock, calls are charged at peak rate.

More examplesFewer examples

Will you excuse me? I've got to make a phone call.
The phone company were unable to trace the call.
Please confine your use of the phone to business calls.
He told my boss that I'd been making long-distance calls at work!
We had to make five calls to technical support just to get the new computer working.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Communications - by telephone

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call noun (ANIMAL)

B1 [ C ]

the sound an animal makes or the sound of someone shouting something:

give someone a call mainly UK I'll be in the next room, so give me a call if you need any help.

The whale has a very distinctive call.

call for help She could hear calls for help from inside the burning building.

More examplesFewer examples

I thought I heard a call from the bedroom.
the wolf's call
the call of the brown owl
Could you give me a call when he arrives?
Was that a call for help?

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Shouting & screaming

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call noun (DEMAND)

[ U ]

the fact of people wanting or needing a particular thing:

There's not much call for fur coats these days.

formal I certainly don't think there's any call for that sort of language, young lady!

C1 [ C ]

a demand for something to happen:

Management have so far ignored the union's calls for stricter safety regulations.

Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples

the act of asking for something

requestHer request for information was denied.
applicationHis application for bail was granted.
appealThe leader made an appeal for unity.
callWith calls for action mounting, policymakers are beginning to pay attention.
demandWe will never give in to terrorists’ demands.

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SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Feelings of desire

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Making appeals & requests

call noun (VISIT)

C1 [ C ]

a short visit, especially an official one made by someone whose job is connected with health:

on a call Doctor Seward is out on a call this morning.

pay a call on old-fashioned I thought I'd pay a call on (= visit) an old friend of mine this weekend.

make a call The nurse has got a few calls to make this afternoon.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Visiting

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Medical treatment: doctors & health workers generally

call noun (DECISION)

[ C ] informal

a decision:

make a call We can't let this situation continue for much longer - someone is going to have to make a call about what happens next.

good call The decision to extend Army tours from one year to 15 months was a good call.

tough call It was a tough call, but eventually I decided to give up my job.

More investment? That's got to be your call - you're the one that's paying!

[ C ]

a decision by a sports official about an action by a player or a shot (= a throw, hit, or kick of the ball):

At the start of the second set, he challenged a questionable line call.

The ref made a number of controversial calls.

SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases

Decisions and deciding

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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

Refereeing & judging in sport

Grammar

Thing and stuff

We use the general noun thing more commonly in speaking than in writing. …

Thing

We use the general noun thing more commonly in speaking than in writing. …

Stuff

Stuff is one of the most common nouns in speaking. It is more informal than thing. It is not at all common in writing. …

Idioms

call of nature
a close call
good call
on call

(Definition of call from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

call | American Dictionary

call

verb

/kɔl/

call verb (NAME)

Add to word list Add to word list

[ T ]

to give someone or something a name, or to know or address someone by a particular name:

They can’t decide whether to call their new baby Carol or Alice.

His name is Anthony, but everyone calls him Tony.

call someone names

To call someone names is to use rude or insulting words to describe someone:

Politicians waste a lot of time calling each other names and criticizing each other.

call verb (TELEPHONE)

[ I/T ]

to telephone someone:

[ I ] I called last night and left a message.

[ T ] Jenny called me and invited us over for the weekend.

call someone collect

If you call someone collect, you telephone someone who agrees to pay for the cost of talking to you

call verb (SAY)

[ I/T ]

to say something in a loud voice, esp. in order to get someone’s attention:

[ T ] “Answer ‘Here!’ when I call your name,” the teacher said.

call the roll

If you call the roll you read aloud the names of all the people on a list to make certain that each person is present:

The teacher calls the roll at the beginning of each day.

call verb (ASK TO COME)

[ I/T ]

to ask someone to come to you:

[ I ] I ran to Jonathan as soon as I heard him call.

[ T ] You’d better call an ambulance.

[ M ] Susan, would you call in the next patient, please?

call verb (CONSIDER)

[ T ]

to consider someone or something to be something:

I wouldn’t call him a friend – he’s just someone I met.

The umpire called him safe on a close play.

call verb (ASK FOR)

[ T ]

to ask for or demand something, or to decide officially to have a particular event:

The mayor called a meeting of local organizations to discuss budget priorities.

Idioms

call a halt to something
call it a day
call it quits
call the shots

Phrasal verbs

call back (someone)
call for someone
call for something
call forth something
call in
call in someone
call off something
call on someone
call on someone
call out (something)

More phrasal verbs

call out something
call up (someone)
call up someone

call

noun

/kɔl/

call noun (BEING ASKED TO COME)

[ C ]

a visit that someone makes, esp. as part of a job:

The locksmith is out on a call right now.

on call

People who work in medicine and other important activities are said to be on call when they are available to make visits or to speak to someone on the telephone at any time:

Dr. Menendez is on call for the next 24 hours.

call noun (DECISION)

[ C ]

a decision:

I really don’t know what to do – it’s your call.

call noun (CAUSE)

[ C/U ]

a reason or cause:

[ U ] There’s no call for you to get so angry – I was just kidding.

call noun (SOUNDS)

[ C ]

a loud sound made by a person or animal:

Where we camp, near the river, you can hear the call of the wolf almost every night.

[ C ]

the characteristic cry of a bird:

Students tried to imitate the calls of their favorite birds.

(Definition of call from the Cambridge Academic Content Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)

call | Business English

call

verb

/kɔːl/ us

Add to word list Add to word list

[ I or T ] COMMUNICATIONS

to phone someone:

I'll tell Mr Baker you called. Would you like me to pass on any message?

Please call us as soon as possible so that we can resolve this issue.

call collect US (also reverse (the) charges)

COMMUNICATIONS

to make a phone call that is paid for by the person who receives it:

To call collect from overseas, you need to reach an international operator.

[ T ]

to ask or demand that a particular action should be taken or that a particular event should happen:

call an election/meeting/strike An emergency meeting of the board was called for the next day.

call for order (also call sb/sth to order)

MEETINGS, LAW

to ask people in a meeting or law court to be quiet so that the meeting or legal action can continue:

The senator called the Judiciary Committee meeting to order.

A deputy called for order in the courtroom.

[ T ] FINANCE

(also call sth in)

to say officially that borrowed money must be paid back:

call (in) a debt/loan The contract gives the lender the right to call a loan if the borrower sells the property.

call (in) a bond

FINANCE

to pay back money to a person or organization holding a bond before the date when the bond matures (= when it would normally be paid back):

When interest rates plunge, a company may decide to call a bond.

[ T ]

to ask someone to come to a place:

call sb in/into/over He was called into a manager's office and told that, after 26 years of service, he was no longer needed.

She called me over and asked if I was interested in applying for the job.

[ I ]

to visit a person or place for a short time:

A salesman called at my home.

[ T ] informal

to say that a particular event or action will happen in the future:

He claims to have called the downturn in the economy nearly four years ago.

[ T ] LAW

to make someone say what they know about a situation, in a court of law or to a government official or group:

The committee can call witnesses and compel them to answer questions.

Phrasal verbs

call back
call (sb) back
call sth back
call for sth
call in
call sb in
call sth in
call sth off
call on/upon sb
call on/upon sth

More phrasal verbs

call (sb) up

call sth up

call

noun

/kɔːl/ us

[ C ] COMMUNICATIONS

an act of communicating with someone by phone:

a phone/telephone call I'm expecting a phone call from him this morning.

a local/international/long-distance call The company is dropping international call charges to over 20 countries.

make/place a call We're not allowed to make private calls at work.

get/receive/take a call Thank you for taking my call.

return sb's call He was busy when I contacted him and he didn't return my calls.

See also

cold-call
conference call
courtesy call
toll call

[ C ]

a short visit, especially one for a particular or official purpose:

a customer/sales call

pay a call on sb While I was in the area, I took the opportunity of paying a call on one of my clients.

See also

courtesy call

[ C ]

a demand for something to happen:

a call for sth Yesterday there were renewed calls for a change in the law.

[ C or U ]

a situation in which people or businesses want or need a particular thing:

a call for/on sth Energy efficiency and conservation could lead to a reduced call for exports.

no call for sth There is no call for such luxuries in the present economic climate.

He was finding that there were a numbers of calls on his time in his new role.

[ C ] STOCK MARKET

a demand made by a company to shareholders for payment of money they owe for shares for which they have paid only part of the price:

Shareholders received notice of a call of 40 cents per share on all partly paid-up shares.

FINANCE

a demand for money that is owed to be paid back:

Your loan may contain a call provision if you fall behind on your payments.

See also

cash call

margin call

[ C ] FINANCE

call option

at/on call

FINANCE, STOCK MARKET

used to describe a loan that must be paid back immediately upon the request of the financial organization lending the money:

Many banks have money market loans at call with discount houses.

BANKING

used to describe a bank account from which you can take money out when you ask for it:

All our accounts are at-call accounts that require no minimum deposit or balance.

on call

available to work when needed:

He is on call round-the-clock two weeks each month.

Examples of call

call

A policy specifies what system calls are permitted, and the ways they can be used.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Either way, spiral stairs lead to a common landing, called the parlour in plans.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

No call to care, finally, could be too mundane; what could be more ordinary than peeling an egg?

From the Cambridge English Corpus

He attempted to create architecture directly out of what he called 'nature's organic structural thoughts'.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The main category is called organic and inorganic dust.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The mapping between surface and lexical levels is reduced to a single function call and two simple conversions from text to binary, and vice versa.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

A random sample of patients with none of the above three co-morbid conditions (hereafter called the general group) was selected for comparison.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Extremists of this view, called 'instrumentalists', believe that all or most knowledge productivity will increase provided the right information systems are implemented.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

In particular, we must address the situation where we recursively call a tabled subgoal before we have fully tabled all its answers.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The approach is a consequence of a new sequential tabling scheme based on dynamic reordering of alternatives with variant calls.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

The start-up code calls the first function and then enters an infinite loop.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

If the second field is an index, then the relation is called an index map.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

Examination of these themes calls for considerable basic information about inter-war suburbs and how they were created.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

It may be called the structural orientation of the proof-structure.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

They explain many differences (including some structural ones) between languages which have been called ' 'mixed' '.

From the Cambridge English Corpus

See all examples of call

These examples are from corpora and from sources on the web. Any opinions in the examples do not represent the opinion of the Cambridge Dictionary editors or of Cambridge University Press or its licensors.

Collocations with call

call

These are words often used in combination with call.

Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.

bugle call

I felt that our country was awaiting a bugle call to saving the nation action.

From the

Hansard archive

Example from the Hansard archive. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0

call forwarding

Call forwarding is disabled by dialing 73.

From

Wikipedia

This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.

high-pitched call

They emit a distinctive, high-pitched call somewhat like a squeak or the chirp of a bird, possibly expressing a territorial message.

From

Wikipedia

This example is from Wikipedia and may be reused under a CC BY-SA license.

See all collocations with call

What is the pronunciation of call?

Translations of call

in Chinese (Traditional)

名字, 給…取名，給…命名, 稱呼…

in Chinese (Simplified)

名字, 给…取名，给…命名, 称呼…

in Spanish

llamar, considerar, gritar…

in Portuguese

chamar, ligar (para), chamada telefônica…

in more languages

in Marathi

in Japanese

in Turkish

in French

in Catalan

in Dutch

in Tamil

in Hindi

in Gujarati

in Danish

in Swedish

in Malay

in German

in Norwegian

in Urdu

in Ukrainian

in Telugu

in Bengali

in Czech

in Indonesian

in Thai

in Vietnamese

in Polish

in Korean

in Italian

एखाद्याला किंवा काहीतरी नाव देणे किंवा एखाद्याला विशिष्ट नावाने ओळखणे किंवा संबोधणे, बोलणे, मोठ्या आवाजात काहीतरी बोलणे विशेषत: एखाद्याचे लक्ष वेधण्यासाठी किंवा (प्राण्यांचे) मोठ्याने किंवा उच्च आवाज काढणे विशेषत: दुसर्या प्राण्यासाठी.…

～に電話する, 叫ぶ, ～と名づける…

birine belli bir isim vermek, o isimle çağırmak, birini…

appeler, qualifier de, faire venir…

trucar (a), cridar, dir…

noemen, roepen, oproepen…

ஒருவருக்கு அல்லது ஏதோ ஒன்றிற்கு ஒரு பெயரைக் கொடுக்க, அல்லது ஒரு குறிப்பிட்ட பெயரால் ஒருவரை அறிந்து கொள்ள அல்லது குறிப்பிட, ஒருவருடன் பேச தொலைபேசியைப் பயன்படுத்துதல்…

(किसी व्यक्ति या किसी वस्तु का) नाम रखना, किसी को नाम से संबोधित करना, फोन करना…

નામ આપવું, નામથી બોલાવવું, ફોન કરવો…

kalde, råbe, tilkalde…

kalla, kalla på, ropa…

panggil, katakan, menghubungi…

rufen, bezeichnen als, anfragen…