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to call

to call

1.0
To phone someone to speak with them
  • verb
  • /kɔl/
translation icon : llamar a
  • Sweetheart, I want you to call us every day.
  • call mom
  • call home
  • please call

Hey, Theo, it's Chris calling from Waldo, Maine.

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Examples

  • If you have any questions, please call our customer service line for assistance.

  • What did you just call me?

  • God, Peter, you have to call the police.

  • When shall I call for you, sir?

  • Jordan used a satellite phone to call his mom and sister in California.

    Academic text (2011)
  • - I suppose you haven't called the police.

  • Well, when he comes in, tell him to call Trencher's Farm.

  • Hi Joshua and Ryan, this is Crystal calling from Seattle, WA.

  • Hey, Theo, it's Chris calling from Waldo, Maine.

  • Hey Theo, this is Cody calling from Boulder, Co.

Synonyms

to contact
vsto call
2.5

To communicate with someone by phone or writing

focuses on making voice or radio connections rather than writing or messaging
to reach
vsto call
1.3

Make contact with someone by phone or email

is more focused on voice device contact, not all message or email types
to dial
vsto call
378 1.7

To enter a phone number by pressing buttons or turning a control

is the action of contacting someone rather than just preparing device numbers
to ring
vsto call
  • UK
294 1.0

To call someone on the phone

covers other electronic or radio methods as well as voice device contact
to call up
vsto call
209 2.5

To phone someone

is broader, including radio and non-voice electronic contacting methods
to phone
vsto call
204 1.0

To call someone by telephone

includes contacting by radio or other electronic methods beyond voice links
to make contact
vsto call
113 2.8

To get in touch with someone after a time without talking

is usually immediate voice device connection rather than first or resumed communication
to make a call
vsto call
93 1.0

To phone someone

may also use radio or other electronic ways and not just voice device attempts
to telephone
vsto call
20 1.0

To call someone to speak with them

also includes radio and other electronic message types, not only voice links
to ping
vsto call
  • Texting
10 4.1

To send someone a short electronic message to get their attention

is broader and includes longer voice or radio attempts not only quick reminders
to give a ring
vsto call
1 2.2

To phone someone

is the neutral term that covers longer or formal electronic contacts too

Idioms

829 1.3

To ask someone to phone you

99 4.2

To be in control and make the important decisions

52 3.2

Stop what you are doing for the evening, usually to go to bed or go home

6 6.0

To speak clearly and honestly about something even if it is unpleasant

4 7.9

Change plans quickly at the last minute when something goes wrong

3 7.9

To tell someone strongly that they have done something wrong, often in front of others

to call the tune
  • Informal
3 7.0

To have control and make the main decisions

2 7.7

Stop criticizing or attacking someone after being angry

2 6.3

Challenge someone to prove they are serious when you think they are not

1 8.9

Make someone face consequences they cannot avoid

The first place you go to for help or information

To become a barrister and be officially allowed to work in court

A funny phrase people say when they cannot believe something

8.4

To stop a meeting or discussion

9.5

To say that an idea is nonsense or not true

To stop working or playing and finish for now

To say you are foolish in a joking way

Say that an older woman is foolish or annoying in a mean way

9.9

Insult someone by saying 'maggot' to show they are worthless or lazy

9.9

To insult someone by saying they are a fool

To insult a man by saying he is like a woman in a hurtful way

Says that someone's application or request is rejected and ends the conversation

Always ready to work or help, day and night

A strong phrase people say when they are very surprised or do not believe something

An informal rude phrase said to show surprise or not believe something

Phrasal Verbs

457 2.8

Phone someone who called you earlier

369 3.3

Ask people in public to give or do something

359 3.2

Need something because the situation makes it necessary

to call it
  • Informal
324 4.7

Decide to stop an activity and finish for now

209 2.5

To phone someone

193 3.0

Ask someone to come in to help, often an expert or worker

to call on
  • Formal
187 3.5

To ask someone to take action or give information, often in a meeting

178 1.6

Phone 911 in the United States and Canada to get immediate help from police, fire, or ambulance

152 3.5

To say something loudly so people can hear

117 3.2

Phone a place like an office or radio show to give information

100 3.7

To describe yourself using a certain name or title

To decide what to do in an important situation

To phone someone

91 2.8

To cancel a planned event or activity

to call out
  • Texting
68 4.6

Publicly criticize a person or group for bad actions

to call on
  • Informal
65 4.7

To challenge someone to explain or defend what they said

To ask loudly for help in an emergency

to call it a day
  • Informal
42 3.1

To stop working for the rest of the day

42 3.6

Ask for something back, for example a product or loan

41 3.1

To visit someone briefly for a purpose

to call it quits
  • Informal
34 3.9

To stop doing something because you cannot continue or feel you have done enough

To say that something may not be true or right

To make people notice something important

to call up
  • Specialized
29 4.4

To order someone to start military service

23 3.3

Ask someone to return after they have left

13 4.0

To make a file or information appear for use

11 3.2

To make a memory or image appear in your mind

to call up
  • Formal
9 4.1

To mention something for discussion in a meeting or court

Cause a feeling or reaction to appear in people

6 3.9

To officially start a meeting by asking people to be quiet

5 5.7

Say someone is rude or mean to hurt their feelings

4 4.0

To stop at a port or station during a journey

4 2.3

Remember something from the past

to call back
  • Specialized
4 5.0

Run a piece of code you gave earlier when an event happens

3 6.0

Make someone explain what they did and take responsibility

Fail to answer a phone call before it stops ringing

to call off
  • Jargon
1 8.0

To tell dancers the next movements during a square dance

Phone someone to ask for help about a problem

To ask people or groups for help when you need it

1 2.8

Pay a short, often unplanned visit to someone

1 8.8

To say someone is not brave to make them feel bad

1 5.8

Tell someone publicly that they did something wrong

1 2.5

Phone the emergency number 999 in the United Kingdom

to call down
  • Informal
1 6.8

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

1 3.4

To read a list of names aloud to check who is present

to call down
  • Literature
9.2

Ask a spirit or magic power to come and act

to call out
  • Archaic
9.9

Challenge someone to a duel because of an insult

Compounds

1.0

A time when you talk to someone by telephone

A phone call where more than two people talk, usually for work

A time when you speak with someone by phone

close call
  • Informal
43 3.7

A situation when something bad almost happens but is avoided

distress call
  • Specialized
42 3.9

A signal sent by a ship, plane, or person to ask for urgent help

27 3.2

People call out a list of names to check who is present in a meeting, classroom or group

call girl
  • NSFW
23 7.9

A woman who is paid to have sex and who arranges meetings by phone or online

20 3.6

A phone call where the person who answers pays the cost

20 2.7

A place where many people answer phone calls to help customers or take orders

tough call
  • Informal
19 5.3

A difficult choice when two options are equally hard

18 3.4

An event that makes people realize they must act or change what they do

15 3.6

Calling someone again after missing their call or message

call waiting
  • Specialized
12 2.6

A phone service that alerts you to a new call while you are on the phone

A phone conversation with someone in another area that costs extra

call to arms
  • Formal
9 5.9

A strong appeal for people to take action for a cause

8 4.7

A final chance to order drinks before a bar closes

call up
  • Formal
8 6.4

An official order telling someone to report for military service

8 3.7

A part of a radio or TV show when people phone to give their views

7 4.3

A moment at the end of a show when actors return to the stage to thank the audience for applause

6 3.4

A port where a ship stops during a journey away from home

5 1.0

A phone call made inside the same town or area, usually cheaper than a long-distance call

5 2.7

A phone call arranged to wake someone at a set time

clarion call
  • Literature
4 6.8

A strong clear request that makes people take action

crank call
  • Offensive
4 6.7

A telephone call made to annoy someone as a joke

margin call
  • Specialized
4 8.2

A demand from a broker for more money or stocks to bring an investment account to the required level

3 3.3

A visit by a technician to fix or check equipment at a customer's place

3 7.8

A tempting offer that may harm or trick you

2 5.8

A need to go to the toilet to pee or poo

2 5.6

A short tune that someone plays on a bugle to signal a time or event

call option
  • Specialized
2 7.7

A contract that lets someone choose to buy something of value at a set price for a limited time

mail call
  • Jargon
2 6.1

A time when people hear their names and receive letters or packages

function call
  • Specialized
1 4.4

An instruction in a program that runs a small piece of code and then returns

call forwarding
  • Specialized
1 3.4

A phone service that sends incoming calls to another phone number you choose

call-back
  • Jargon
1 4.1

Asking workers who were laid off to return to work

call number
  • Specialized
1 4.0

A code of letters and numbers on a library book that shows where it is on the shelf

call-back
  • Specialized
1 5.9

A piece of code given to another function to run later when an action finishes

muster call
  • Jargon
1 8.4

A meeting when soldiers line up and have their names called to check who is present

service call
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A request a program sends to a server over a network to do a task

system call
  • Specialized
1 6.8

A request a program sends to the operating system to do a task like reading a file

1 4.9

A phone call to another city that costs more than a local call

trunk call
  • Archaic
1 9.8

A phone call to a place outside your local area that usually costs more

sick call
  • Jargon
1 5.7

A set time when soldiers report to a medic if ill

A clear, musical bird sound like a small bell

bell-like call
  • Texting
3.7

A short bell sound on a phone or app that signals a message

call loan
  • Specialized
8.1

A loan the lender can ask to be paid back at any time

8.4

A code written on a book to show where it is on the library shelves

call box
  • Archaic
6.1

A numbered box in a post office where a person collects their mail

2.8

A public booth with a phone for making calls

call fire
  • Specialized
9.6

Artillery or aircraft attack a specific target after a unit asks for it

call-board
  • Jargon
7.7

A board backstage where actors and crew read notices and schedules

7.8

A public challenge asking someone to fight or compete

call-out
  • Texting
7.4

A public statement blaming someone for wrong behavior

9.9

A look or signal asking someone to join you in bed

8.8

A phone call to the police to report a problem or ask for help

local call
  • Specialized
3.7

A request in a program that runs inside the same process and is not sent to another computer

An Algerian extremist Islamist group that split from another militant group and tried to overthrow the government while supporting al-Qaeda

9.8

A command a program sends to pause and ask the operating system to do a task

two-note call
  • Specialized
8.1

A bird sound that has two different notes played one after the other

How Immediate

to text
  • Texting
296 2.6
to call
1.0
email
  • Texting
724 1.0

Surface Forms

call infinitive
called past
called past participle
calling present participle
calls third person singular

Etymology

Call comes from an old English word ceallian meaning 'to cry out', so using the phone to call someone is the modern way to get their attention and speak to them.