call

/kɔːl/
verbnoun★Beginner
informal

To shout or speak loudly to attract attention or communicate from a distance

She called her dog to come inside.

He called out to his friend across the street.

informal

To make a telephone call or contact someone electronically

I'll call you later this evening.

Did you call the office yet?

informal

To visit someone or go to a place

We called at the bakery on our way home.

She called at the hospital to see her friend.

formal

To name or refer to something by a specific term

The plant is commonly called a 'rose' in English.

They called the new product 'Eclipse'.

formal

To summon someone officially or formally

The jury was called to deliberate.

The president called for a meeting.

Collocations

call someoneTo telephone someonecall it a dayTo stop working for the daycall into questionTo challenge or doubt something

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

call it quitsphrase
To stop doing something, often permanently
call the shotsidiom
To be in charge or control
call someone's bluffidiom
To challenge someone who is pretending to be confident

💡Pro Tip

Context Matters

The meaning of 'call' changes significantly based on context. Pay attention to whether it's used as a verb or noun and the surrounding words to determine the correct interpretation.

⚡Gold Rule

Verb vs. Noun

When 'call' is a verb, it often involves summoning or contacting someone. As a noun, it typically refers to a phone call or a visit.

📖Word Origin

From Middle English 'callen', from Old English 'ceallian', meaning to shout or cry out

📝Usage Notes

The word 'call' is highly versatile and can be used as both a verb and a noun. Its meaning often depends on context, such as whether it refers to a phone call, a visit, or a summoning.

Word Breakdown

call
To shout or summon
root
✎ Noted on May 2, 2026EN → EN