📒 to give somebody/something a particular name; to use a particular name or title when you are talking to somebody
- call somebody/something + noun They decided to call the baby Mark.
- His name's Hiroshi but everyone calls him Hiro.
- be called + noun What's their son called?
📒 to phone somebody
- I'll call again later.
- I got a message to call home immediately.
- call somebody/something to do something I called the office to tell them I'd be late.
📒 to ask somebody/something to come quickly to a particular place by phoning
- call somebody/something Someone called the police.
- to call an ambulance/a doctor
- call something for somebody I'll call a taxi for you.
📒 to describe somebody/something in a particular way; to consider somebody/something to be something
- call somebody/something + noun I wouldn't call German an easy language.
- Are you calling me a liar?
- She now calls Southern California home (= she lives there).
📒 to claim that you are a particular type of person, especially when other people question whether this is true
- Call yourself a friend? So why won't you help me, then?
- She's no right to call herself a feminist.
📒 to shout or say something loudly to attract somebody’s attention
- I thought I heard somebody calling.
- call (out) to somebody (for something) She called out to her father for help.
- call (out) to somebody to do something Someone called to him to wait.
📒 to ask somebody to come by shouting or speaking loudly
- call somebody + adv./prep. Will you call the kids in for lunch?
- call (somebody) He heard me call him and came to the door.
- Did you call?
📒 to order somebody to come to a place
- be called + adv./prep. Several candidates were called for a second interview.
- The ambassador was called back to London by the prime minister.
- He felt called to the priesthood (= had a strong feeling that he must become a priest).
📒 to order something to happen; to announce that something will happen
- call something to call a meeting/strike
- call something for… The prime minister has called an election for 8 June.
📒 to make a short visit to a person or place
- I'll call round and see you on my way home.
- call on somebody Let's call on John.
- call to do something He was out when I called to see him.
📒 to make the noise that is typical for it
- The cuckoo called across the trees to its mate.
📒 to predict what the result of something will be
- call something It's a very open game that is very hard to call.
- to be difficult/impossible to call
- The result of this election is going to be too close to call.
📒 to say which side of a coin you think will face upwards after it is thrown
📒 to shout out the steps for people performing a square dance or country dance
📒 to remember somebody/something
- She couldn't call to mind where she had seen him before.
📒 to remind you of somebody/something
- The painting brings to mind some of Picasso's early works.
📒 to tell somebody to do what they are threatening to do, because you believe that they will not be cruel or brave enough to do it
- She was tempted to call his bluff, hardly able to believe he’d carry out his threat.
📒 to make use of something
- Chess is a game that calls into play all your powers of concentration.
📒 to doubt something or make others doubt something
- His honesty has never been called into question.
📒 to decide or agree to stop doing something
- After forty years in politics I think it's time for me to call it a day (= to retire).
📒 to agree to end a contest, argument, etc. because both sides seem equal
📒 to decide to stop doing something
📒 to use offensive words about somebody
📒 to be the person who controls a situation
📒 to say exactly what you think without trying to hide your opinion
- I believe in calling a spade a spade.
📒 to say or decide that it is time for something to finish
📒 to make somebody explain a mistake, etc. because they are responsible for it
📒 to ask people in a meeting to be quiet so that the meeting can start or continue
📒 to order somebody to obey the formal rules of a meeting; to start a formal meeting
- The argument continued until the chairman called them both to order.
- The president brought the meeting to order at 9.15 a.m.
- As the meeting was brought to order, the councillor immediately stood and began to protest.
📒 the person who provides the money for something can also control how it is spent
📒 called to see somebody in authority because you have done something wrong
- I got called on the carpet for being late.
📒 used to say that you should not criticize somebody for a fault that you have yourself
📒 used instead of a name that you cannot remember
- She's just gone out with old what-d'you-call-him.