Call

/kɔːl/ name, noun, verb, slang

name, noun, verb, slang ·Top 500 ·Elementary level

Meaning at a glance

  • Primary sense: A cry or shout.
  • Grammar: call is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
  • Nearest alternatives: cry, phone call, shout, telephone call.
  • Useful contrasts: cancel, discharge, disconnect.
  • Usage evidence: I'll call them tomorrow when I come back.

How to use "call"

  1. Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
  2. Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "call" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
  3. Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.

Meaning check

  • Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
  • Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
  • Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
  • Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?

Source and review context

This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "call" in a final draft.

If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.

Before you rely on this definition

Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "call" as the right word for your sentence.

If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "call" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.

Compare nearby meanings

  • Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
  • Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
  • Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
  • Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.

Definition decision workflow

1. Identify the role

Check whether "call" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.

2. Test the nearest option

Compare it with "cry" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.

3. Confirm with context

Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.

Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.

Final meaning check

Before publishing a sentence with "call", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.

When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A cry or shout. countable, uncountable

    "He heard a call from the other side of the room."

  2. 2
    Initialism of computer-assisted language learning. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, uncountable
  3. 3
    the option to buy a given stock (or stock index or commodity future) at a given price before a given date wordnet
  4. 4
    The characteristic cry of a bird or other animal. countable, uncountable

    "That sound is the distinctive call of the cuckoo bird."

  5. 5
    (sports) the decision made by an umpire or referee wordnet
Show 34 more definitions
  1. 6
    A beckoning or summoning. countable, uncountable

    "I had to yield to the call of the wild."

  2. 7
    a visit in an official or professional capacity wordnet
  3. 8
    A telephone conversation; a phone call. countable, uncountable

    "I received several phone calls today."

  4. 9
    a brief social visit wordnet
  5. 10
    An instance of calling someone on the telephone. countable, uncountable

    "I made a call to Jim, but he didn’t answer."

  6. 11
    a special disposition (as if from a divine source) to pursue a particular course wordnet
  7. 12
    A short visit, usually for social purposes. countable, uncountable

    "I paid a call to a dear friend of mine."

  8. 13
    a method of contacting a person by phone wordnet
  9. 14
    A visit by a ship or boat to a port. countable, uncountable

    "The ship made a call at Southampton."

  10. 15
    an instruction that interrupts the program being executed wordnet
  11. 16
    A decision or judgement. countable, uncountable

    "That was a good call."

  12. 17
    the characteristic sound produced by a bird wordnet
  13. 18
    The right to speak at a given time during a debate or other public event; the floor. countable, uncountable

    "The Prime Minister has the call."

  14. 19
    a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition wordnet
  15. 20
    Ellipsis of call option. abbreviation, alt-of, countable, ellipsis, uncountable
  16. 21
    a request wordnet
  17. 22
    The act of calling to the other batsman. countable, uncountable
  18. 23
    a demand wordnet
  19. 24
    The state of being the batsman whose role it is to call (depends on where the ball goes.) countable, uncountable
  20. 25
    a demand for a show of hands in a card game wordnet
  21. 26
    A work shift which requires one to be available when requested, i.e. on call. uncountable

    "page 48: “Mondays would be great, especially after a weekend of call.” page 56: “[…] I’ve got call tonight, and all weekend, but I’ll be off tomorrow to help you some.”"

  22. 27
    a demand by a broker that a customer deposit enough to bring their margin up to the minimum requirement wordnet
  23. 28
    The act of jumping to a subprogram, saving the means to return to the original point. countable, uncountable
  24. 29
    A statement of a particular state, or rule, made in many games such as bridge, craps, jacks, and so on. countable, uncountable

    "There was a 20 dollar bet on the table, and my call was 9."

  25. 30
    The act of matching a bet made by a player who has previously bet in the same round of betting. countable, uncountable
  26. 31
    A note blown on the horn to encourage the dogs in a hunt. countable, uncountable
  27. 32
    A whistle or pipe, used by the boatswain and his mate to summon the sailors to duty. countable, uncountable
  28. 33
    A pipe or other instrument to call birds or animals by imitating their note or cry. A game call. countable, uncountable
  29. 34
    An invitation to take charge of or serve a church as its pastor. countable, uncountable
  30. 35
    Vocation; employment; calling. archaic, countable, uncountable
  31. 36
    A reference to, or statement of, an object, course, distance, or other matter of description in a survey or grant requiring or calling for a corresponding object, etc., on the land. US, countable, uncountable
  32. 37
    A meeting with a client for paid sex; hookup; job. countable, informal, slang, uncountable

    ""They have a little network of women that watch out for each other," Morford said. That means that if one prostitute doesn't come back after going out on a call – whether it's an Internet prostitute or a streetwalker – and the other women can't get hold of her, they get scared, close up shop and won't work, Morford said."

  33. 38
    A lawyer who was called to the bar (became licensed as a lawyer) in a specified year. countable, uncountable

    "The work was done by two lawyers, one a 1983 call and the other a 2010 call."

  34. 39
    Need; necessity. countable, uncountable

    "There's no call for that kind of bad language!"

Verb
  1. 1
    To reach out with one's voice.; To request, summon, or beckon. intransitive

    "That person is hurt; call for help!"

  2. 2
    rouse somebody from sleep with a call wordnet
  3. 3
    To reach out with one's voice.; To cry or shout. intransitive

    ""Supper's ready," called Dad from the kitchen."

  4. 4
    consider or regard as being wordnet
  5. 5
    To reach out with one's voice.; To utter in a loud or distinct voice. transitive

    "to call the roll of a military company"

Show 55 more definitions
  1. 6
    challenge the sincerity or truthfulness of wordnet
  2. 7
    To reach out with one's voice.; To contact by telephone. ambitransitive

    "Why don’t you call me in the morning?"

  3. 8
    utter in a loud voice or announce wordnet
  4. 9
    To reach out with one's voice.; To rouse from sleep; to awaken. transitive

    "Take not away the Taper, leaue it burning: / And if thou canſt awake by foure o’th’clock, / I prythee call me: Sleepe hath ceiz’d me wholly."

  5. 10
    order, summon, or request for a specific duty or activity, work, role wordnet
  6. 11
    To reach out with one's voice.; To request that one's band play (a particular tune). transitive

    "They called I Got Rhythm, and turned to me again for a solo, and I said what?"

  7. 12
    order or request or give a command for wordnet
  8. 13
    To reach out with one's voice.; To scold. Yorkshire, transitive

    "CALL 1 scold"

  9. 14
    lure by imitating the characteristic call of an animal wordnet
  10. 15
    To visit.; To pay a (social) visit (often used with "on", "round", or "at"; used by salespeople with "again" to invite customers to come again). intransitive

    "We could always call on a friend."

  11. 16
    get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone wordnet
  12. 17
    To visit.; To stop at a station or port. intransitive

    "This train calls at Reading, Slough and London Paddington."

  13. 18
    order, request, or command to come wordnet
  14. 19
    To visit.; To come to pass; to afflict. intransitive

    "They say your love will surely fade, girl, / When things go wrong and trouble calls."

  15. 20
    declare in the capacity of an umpire or referee wordnet
  16. 21
    To name, identify, or describe.; To name or refer to. ditransitive

    "Why don’t we dispense with the formalities? Please call me Al."

  17. 22
    challenge (somebody) to make good on a statement; charge with or censure for an offense wordnet
  18. 23
    To name, identify, or describe.; Of a person, to have as one's name; of a thing, to have as its name.

    "I’m called John."

  19. 24
    present for redemption before maturation wordnet
  20. 25
    To name, identify, or describe.; To state, or estimate, approximately or loosely; to characterize without strict regard to fact.

    "They call the distance ten miles."

  21. 26
    utter a sudden loud cry wordnet
  22. 27
    To name, identify, or describe.; To claim the existence of some malfeasance; to denounce as. transitive

    "I call bullshit."

  23. 28
    make a prediction about; tell in advance wordnet
  24. 29
    To name, identify, or describe.; To disclose the class or character of; to identify. obsolete

    "This ſpeech calls him Spaniard, being nothing but / A large inventory of his own commendations."

  25. 30
    ascribe a quality to or give a name of a common noun that reflects a quality wordnet
  26. 31
    To declare, or declare in favor of, a predicted or actual result.; To declare in advance. transitive

    "The captains call the coin toss."

  27. 32
    utter a characteristic note or cry wordnet
  28. 33
    To declare, or declare in favor of, a predicted or actual result.; To predict. transitive

    "He called twelve of the last three recessions."

  29. 34
    assign a specified (usually proper) name to wordnet
  30. 35
    To declare, or declare in favor of, a predicted or actual result.; To formally recognise a death: especially to announce and record the time, place and fact of a person’s death. transitive

    "“Let’s call it. Time of death, 08:45.” The respiratory therapist stopped bagging. The doctor stopped CPR. There was no heartbeat on the monitor. Michael was dead."

  31. 36
    send a message or attempt to reach someone by radio, phone, etc.; make a signal to in order to transmit a message wordnet
  32. 37
    To declare, or declare in favor of, a predicted or actual result.; To declare (an effort or project) to be a failure.

    "After the third massive failure, John called the whole initiative."

  33. 38
    read aloud to check for omissions or absentees wordnet
  34. 39
    To declare, or declare in favor of, a predicted or actual result.; To make a decision as a referee or umpire.

    "The goal was called offside."

  35. 40
    indicate a decision in regard to wordnet
  36. 41
    Direct or indirect use of the voice.; (of a batsman): To shout directions to the other batsman on whether or not they should take a run.
  37. 42
    give the calls (to the dancers) for a square dance wordnet
  38. 43
    Direct or indirect use of the voice.; (of a fielder): To shout to other fielders that he intends to take a catch (thus avoiding collisions).
  39. 44
    make a demand, as for a card or a suit or a show of hands wordnet
  40. 45
    Direct or indirect use of the voice.; To tell in advance which shot one is attempting.

    "Every shot must be called."

  41. 46
    demand payment of (a loan) wordnet
  42. 47
    Direct or indirect use of the voice.; To equal the same amount that other players are currently betting. intransitive

    "I bet $800 and Jane raised to $1600. My options: call (match her $1600 bet), reraise, or fold."

  43. 48
    call a meeting; invite or command to meet wordnet
  44. 49
    Direct or indirect use of the voice.; To match the current bet amount, in preparation for a raise in the same turn. (Usually, players are forbidden to announce one's play this way.) intransitive, proscribed

    "I’ll call your 300, and raise to 600!"

  45. 50
    pay a brief visit wordnet
  46. 51
    Direct or indirect use of the voice.; To state, or invoke a rule, in many games such as bridge, craps, jacks, and so on. transitive

    "My partner called two spades."

  47. 52
    make a stop in a harbour wordnet
  48. 53
    To require, demand. sometimes, transitive

    "He felt called to help the old man."

  49. 54
    greet, as with a prescribed form, title, or name wordnet
  50. 55
    To cause to be verbally subjected to. transitive

    "Carried somehow, somewhither, for some reason, on these surging floods, were these travelers, of errand not wholly obvious to their fellows, yet of such sort as to call into query alike the nature of their errand and their own relations."

  51. 56
    stop or postpone because of adverse conditions, such as bad weather wordnet
  52. 57
    To lay claim to an object or role which is up for grabs. colloquial, transitive

    "I call the comfy chair!"

  53. 58
    To announce the early extinction of a debt by prepayment, usually at a premium. transitive
  54. 59
    To demand repayment of a loan. transitive
  55. 60
    To jump to (another part of a program); to perform some operation, returning to the original point on completion. transitive

    "A recursive function is one that calls itself."

Proper Noun
  1. 1
    A surname.

Synonyms

All synonyms
cryphone callshouttelephone callyellaccompany

Example

"I'll call them tomorrow when I come back."

Common questions

What does "call" mean?

A cry or shout.

What is a synonym for "call"?

Common synonyms include: cry, phone call, shout, telephone call, yell, accompany.

How do you use "call" in a sentence?

I'll call them tomorrow when I come back.

How do you pronounce "call"?

Pronounced /kɔːl/.

Etymology

Etymology 1

From Middle English callen, from Old English ċeallian (“to call, shout”) and Old Norse kalla (“to call; shout; refer to as; name”); both from Proto-Germanic *kalzōną (“to call, shout”), from Proto-Indo-European *golH-so- (“voice, cry”), from *gel(H)- (“to vocalize, call, shout”). Cognates * Scots call, caw, ca (“to call, cry, shout”) * Dutch kallen (“to chat, talk”) * German Low German kallen (“to speak, talk”) * German kallen (“to call”) * Swedish kalla (“to call, refer to, beckon”) * Norwegian kalle (“to call, name”) * Danish kalde (“to call, name”) * Icelandic kalla (“to call, shout, name”) * Welsh galw (“to call, demand”) * Polish głos (“voice”) * Lithuanian gal̃sas (“echo”) * Russian голос (golos, “voice”) * Albanian gjuhë (“language, tongue”).

Etymology 2

* As an Irish surname, shortened from McCall. * As an English surname, from the noun caul (“kind of headdress or cap”). * Also as an English surname, from Middle English calwe (“bald”). * Also as an English surname, from a Middle English derivative of Latin caulae (“sheepfold”). * As a Catalan surname, from the noun call (“narrow track”), from Latin callis (“path”). Compare Calle. * As a German surname, Americanized from Koll, Goll.

More for "call"

Synonyms

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