Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
to call (someone) out

to call (someone) out

1 5.8
Tell someone publicly that they did something wrong
  • phrasal verb
  • /kɔl saʊt/
  • Informal
translation icon : llamar la atención a
  • She decided to call him out for his dishonest behavior during the meeting.

Examples

Synonyms

to criticize
vsto call (someone) out
701 3.3

To say what is wrong with someone or something

demands accountability publicly about a specific wrong or mistake
to denounce
vsto call (someone) out
  • Formal
115 6.8

Publicly criticize someone or something strongly

focuses on public challenging of behavior rather than formal legal condemnation
to call out
vsto call (someone) out
  • Texting
68 4.6

Publicly criticize a person or group for bad actions

applies to public challenges in any setting, not only online
to call on
vsto call (someone) out
  • Informal
65 4.7

To challenge someone to explain or defend what they said

aims to accuse or demand accountability publicly rather than only ask questions
to speak out against
vsto call (someone) out
44 4.1

Publicly say you are strongly against something or someone

aims to confront specific wrongs and demand responsibility rather than general opposition
to chastise
vsto call (someone) out
  • Formal
33 7.6

To scold someone strongly for doing something wrong

is more often a public demand for accountability than a private rebuke
to take to task
vsto call (someone) out
18 6.3

To scold someone strongly for a mistake

is usually public and focused on demanding accountability rather than private rebuke
to call on the carpet
vsto call (someone) out
  • Archaic
3 7.9

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

is used more for public confrontation and accountability than internal formal censure
to hit out at
vsto call (someone) out
  • UK
1 6.7

To criticize someone or something strongly in public

is a public challenge expressed with less force or aggression
to call down
vsto call (someone) out
  • Informal
1 6.8

Tell someone angrily that they did something wrong

is a public challenge for responsibility rather than a personal angry scolding
to put the bad mouth on
vsto call (someone) out
  • Informal
9.8

Speak badly about someone or something to other people

is a direct public challenge focused on accountability rather than casual negative talk

Antonyms

to praise
331 1.0

To tell a person that you admire or approve of them

How Critical

to denounce
  • Formal
115 6.8
to call (someone) out
  • Informal
1 5.8
to criticize
701 3.3
to point out
∞ 1.8

Surface Forms

call (someone) out infinitive
called (someone) out past
called (someone) out past participle
calling (someone) out present participle
calls (someone) out third person singular

Morphology

call + (someone) + out

There is a clear compositional link: 'call' (to name/summon/attract attention) combined with 'out' (to expose or make public) points toward publicly challenging or criticizing someone. However, the exact pragmatic sense of publicly confronting or shaming someone is a discourse-pragmatic extension of these parts and particle meanings vary across contexts and languages, so the specific sense may not be fully predictable to a B1 learner without exposure.

Etymology

Call (someone) out may come from the simple image of call + out: someone shouting a person's name so they must come forward and answer in front of others. That's why it now means 'to challenge or criticize someone in public'.