verb

call

kawl

verb

To contact someone by phone, or to cry out or shout to get attention.

"Call me when you get home safely."

"She called out his name across the crowded station."

To give someone or something a name; to refer to something in a particular way.

"They called their new puppy Max."

"Some people call it a soda; others call it a pop."

To pay a brief visit, or to stop at a place, especially a ship stopping at a port.

"I'll call round tomorrow to pick up the keys."

"The cruise ship calls at three ports along the coast."

To predict or officially declare an outcome.

"The pundits called the election for the incumbent hours before the final count."

noun

An act of speaking to someone on the phone.

"I got a call from my sister this morning."

A decision, especially a difficult or judgment-based one.

"It was a tough call, but she decided to turn down the offer."

How to Use Call

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo speak to someone (often by phone), to name something, to visit briefly, or to make a judgment/decision.

Common pairings

give someone a call call it a day close call call someone's bluff

Word Forms

called past tense, call'd past tense, call plural, called plural, calls singular, call singular, called singular, callest singular, calledst singular, calleth singular

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ me when you get home safely.

Etymology

From Old English ceallian and Old Norse kalla, both meaning "to call out or shout," from a shared Germanic root.

Rhymes for call

all wall fall ball tall hall gall pall mall small shall stall

See all rhymes for call →