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Glite Dictionary
to dial out

to dial out

5.1
To leave a phone or video call by ending your connection
  • phrasal verb
  • /ˈdaɪəl aʊt/
translation icon : desconectarse

Examples

  • I can't dial out.

    Blacktop (2000)

  • After the meeting, she decided to dial out to focus on her work.

  • When the discussion went off track, he chose to dial out and end his participation.

  • Feeling overwhelmed, she opted to dial out from the video call.

Synonyms

to withdraw
vsto dial out
466 2.8

To stop taking part in a place or activity

is narrower, meaning leaving only a remote conversation or meeting rather than all situations
to hang up
vsto dial out
405 2.5

End a phone call by putting the phone down

is used to end participation in phone, video, or online meetings rather than only calls
to log out
vsto dial out
  • Texting
7 2.2

Leave your account on a computer or website so others cannot access it

ends participation in a conversation rather than focusing on account security or access
to unplug
vsto dial out
7 4.0

To stop using electronic devices or online services for a short time to rest

ends participation specifically from live conversations rather than general device rest
to log off
vsto dial out
  • Texting
5 2.8

To stop using a computer or website and sign out

ends participation in a conversation or meeting rather than closing a general account session

Antonyms

to join
∞ 1.0

Become a member of a group or take part in its activities

to connect
445 2.7

Attach something to power or a network so it works

Surface Forms

dial out infinitive
dialed out past
dialed out past participle
dialing out present participle
dials out third person singular

Morphology

dial + out

The constituent meanings — 'dial' (to make a call) and 'out' (away/leave) — give a plausible sense of leaving or exiting a call, so a learner can partly infer 'end/disconnect from a conversation'. However, the exact teleconferencing sense (vs. making an outgoing call) is usage-specific and could be ambiguous without exposure, so the meaning is only partially predictable.

Etymology

Dial out comes from the picture of an old phone call: you turned the dial to connect, and out shows going away from the line. So, dial out means 'to disconnect yourself' or 'to leave a call'.