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Glite Dictionary
to call for support

to call for support

1 3.1
To ask people or groups for help when you need it
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : pedir apoyo
  • He decided to call for support when he realized he couldn't handle the situation alone.

Examples

  • But then I'm calling for support.

    Courage Under Fire (1996)

  • Wu called for support for his party as an alternative.

    Academic text (1995)

  • I remember Glenn Beck calling for support from us for the new president.

    Blog text (22)

  • South Sudan has called for support from the donor countries in developing the country's Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector.

    Blog text (11)

  • Mercian King Burgred called for support and Wessex answered the call, yet no fighting took place as Ivar and his men remained inside the walls of Nottingham.

  • Corrina from Blockupy Frankfurt (and many others) called for support for the general strike next week (November 14th) and for Blockupy actions (blocking access to institutions, finance centers, etc.) in the coming spring.

    Blog text (14)

  • The teacher encouraged students to call for support if they were struggling with their assignments.

  • During the emergency meeting, the manager urged everyone to call for support from their teams.

Synonyms

to call for
vsto call for support
369 3.3

Ask people in public to give or do something

is specifically about requesting assistance in need rather than any public demand
to call on
vsto call for support
  • Formal
187 3.5

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

is usually a general request and not limited to formal appeals
to appeal
vsto call for support
100 2.7

To make a serious request for help or support

is a general request not necessarily serious or emotionally charged
to ask for help
vsto call for support
98 1.0

To tell someone you need support with a task or problem

is more formal and used for public or serious requests
to call for help
vsto call for support
59 1.6

To ask loudly for help in an emergency

is a general request often used without loud or urgent signals
to seek help
vsto call for support
30 2.0

Ask someone for support when you face a problem

is mainly about making a clear request instead of quietly searching
to cry out for
vsto call for support
26 4.1

To urgently need something

is an active request for assistance, not just a statement of need
to cry out for help
vsto call for support
7 2.7

To shout loudly when you need help right away

is a general request rather than an urgent vocal alarm
to cry for
vsto call for support
3 4.1

To need something urgently

is about actively asking others for assistance rather than simply needing something
to shout for help
vsto call for support
1 1.0

Call out loudly to ask someone to come to you when you are in danger

is a broader request type not tied to loud vocal cries

How Strong

to mobilize
76 5.8
to appeal
100 2.7
to call for support
1 3.1

Surface Forms

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

Morphology

call + for + support

The meaning 'to request or seek help' is directly compositional from 'call' (to request/summon) + 'for' (indicating purpose/recipient) + 'support' (aid). The verb + preposition + noun pattern 'call for X' commonly means 'ask/demand X' in English and has clear cross-linguistic parallels, so a B1 learner who knows the words will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Call for support comes from the simple image of someone making a loud call—a shout or a bell—to bring others who will support them in a hard situation, so it now means 'to ask for help' when you need assistance.