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call
/kɔːl/
to name or contact
I will call you tomorrow at 3 PM.
The speaker intends to contact the listener via phone the next day at 3 in the afternoon.
neutral
To give a name to someone or something.
They called the baby 'Liam'.
The parents named their newborn child Liam.
People often call New York 'the Big Apple'.
The city of New York is commonly nicknamed the Big Apple.
Used for naming, labeling, or referring to someone/something by a specific term.
neutral
To make a telephone or video connection to someone.
She called her mother every Sunday.
The daughter phoned her mother each Sunday.
Please call me when you arrive.
Contact me via phone once you reach your destination.
Common in everyday communication; can be formal or informal depending on context.
neutral
To summon or request someone to come.
The teacher called all students to the front.
The instructor asked the students to come to the front of the room.
The judge called the next witness.
The judge summoned the following person to testify.
Often used in formal settings like courts, meetings, or classrooms.
neutral
To describe or characterize someone or something in a particular way.
They called the movie 'boring'.
The viewers described the film as dull.
Implies a judgment or opinion about the subject.
technical
In sports, to declare a play or decision.
The referee called a foul.
The official ruled that a foul had occurred.
Specific to sports contexts like basketball, soccer, or American football.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Distinguishing 'call' as verb vs. noun
As a verb, 'call' often follows 'will' or 'can' (e.g., 'I will call you'). As a noun, it often follows 'a' or 'the' (e.g., 'I received a call').
Gold Rule
Pronunciation of 'call'
The 'a' in 'call' is pronounced like the 'a' in 'ball' or 'all' (/ɔː/ in IPA).
Word Origin
Old English 'callian', from Old Norse 'kalla'; related to Dutch 'kallen' (to talk) and German 'kallen' (to chatter).
Usage Notes
As a verb, 'call' can take direct objects (e.g., 'call someone') or be used intransitively (e.g., 'I will call'). As a noun, it often refers to a telephone conversation (e.g., 'I received a call from my boss').
Word Breakdown
call
the word itself
rootEnglish Dictionary