Call Meaning

UK /kɔːl/
US /kɔːl/
Word Definition
call meaning

Call Definition & Usage

verb

To make a telephone or digital call to someone.

Examples

  • "I need to call my friend to check on her."
  • "She called her parents as soon as she landed."
  • "They were calling all day but no one answered."
  • "I’ll call you back after the meeting."
  • "He called to confirm the appointment."
verb

To summon or request someone's presence or attention, often by shouting.

Examples

  • "He called for help when the fire broke out."
  • "She called out to her dog, but it didn’t respond."
  • "The teacher called the students to the front of the class."
  • "They called for volunteers to help with the cleanup."
  • "I could hear him calling my name from across the street."
verb

To refer to someone or something by a particular name or title.

Examples

  • "They call him the best chef in town."
  • "She called her new puppy Max."
  • "What do you call this type of bird?"
  • "The hotel is called The Grand Palace."
  • "He’s the one who called me ‘lazy’ during the meeting."
verb

To make a judgment or prediction about something.

Examples

  • "I’d call that a good idea."
  • "The team called the match a draw."
  • "It’s too early to call the winner."
  • "Experts are calling for a major policy change."
  • "I’d call that a success, given the circumstances."
verb

To declare a decision or action in a game or sport, especially a referee or umpire.

Examples

  • "The referee called a penalty on the opposing team."
  • "He called a timeout just before the buzzer."
  • "The umpire called him out on strikes."
  • "The coach called for a substitution in the second half."
  • "She called the game over when the rain started."
noun

A decision, especially one made during a game or by an official.

Examples

  • "The referee made a questionable call during the match."
  • "It was a close call, but they won the race."
  • "He disagreed with the umpire’s call on the field."
  • "That was a bad call to end the game early."
  • "The coach’s call to go for a field goal proved crucial."

Cultural Context

The word 'call' has its roots in Old Norse and has evolved through various uses in modern English. Its versatility in application makes it common across numerous contexts, from casual conversations to formal decision-making. The concept of 'calling' someone has also extended into digital realms, such as video calls and voice chats.

The Call of Destiny

Story

The Call of Destiny

In a small coastal village, where fog rolled in every evening and the sea whispered secrets, there lived a young fisherman named Jake. His days were spent on the water, but his nights brought strange dreams. One evening, as the sky turned a deep violet and the waves crashed against the rocks, Jake received a call—literally. His grandmother, who had passed years ago, was calling his name in the wind. Startled, Jake rushed outside, only to find no one there. But the sound of her voice remained in his ears, urging him to seek something long forgotten. The following day, Jake met an old sailor who spoke of ancient myths—of a lost treasure buried on the far side of the island. 'They call it the Call of the Sea,' the sailor said, 'and only those truly meant to find it will hear it.' Intrigued, Jake set out the next morning, calling upon his intuition and experience as a fisherman to navigate the treacherous waters. As Jake ventured deeper into the unknown, he realized that every decision he made seemed to be a call to fate. Each choice, a moment to prove whether he was destined for greatness or would fall into the depths like so many before him. Finally, after days of searching, he stood on a cliff overlooking a hidden cove. The treasure was buried beneath the old oak tree, but Jake knew the real call wasn’t for gold—it was for the knowledge of his heritage, the legacy of his ancestors who had once sailed these same waters. Returning home, Jake called his family together, sharing the story of his journey. The real treasure wasn’t the riches, but the strength and resilience passed down through generations. In that moment, he understood: the call had never been for gold. It had always been a call to his destiny, a call to embrace his legacy and future.

The Call of Destiny