12 English Phrasal Verbs With 'CALL'

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12 phrasal verbs with 'CALL'

Call after

  1. Name someone after somebody else
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: She was CALLED Rose AFTER her late grandmother.

Call around

  1. Visit
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: I CALLED AROUND but she wasn't in.

Call at

  1. Enter a harbour or port
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: The cruise ship CALLED AT Malta.

Call back

  1. Return a phonecall
    (Separable [obligatory] | International English)
    » Example: I must CALL her BACK when we get to the office.

Call for

  1. Demand
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: The Opposition party CALLED FOR the minister's resignation after the scandal broke.
  2. Go to collect something
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: The courier CALLED FOR your parcel, but I told him it wasn't ready yet.
  3. Telephone for something
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: I'll CALL FOR a cab right away.
  4. Go and collect someone to take them out
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: I'll CALL FOR you at seven, so be ready because the film starts at half past.
  5. Require
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: An emergency like this CALLS FOR some pretty drastic action.

Call forth

  1. Make something happen
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The protests CALLED FORTH a strong reaction from the police.

Call in

  1. Get someone to come and do a job
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: We had to CALL IN a plumber because the sink was leaking and I had no idea how to fix it.
  2. Stop and visit
    (Inseparable | British English)
    » Example: I CALLED IN on Jenny on my way home because she's not very well at the moment and I wanted to see if she needed anything.

Call off

  1. Cancel
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The concert had to be CALLED OFF because the singer went down with a bad case of flu.
  2. Order someone to stop attacking
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: CALL OFF your lawyers; we can work something out.

Call on

  1. Ask for help
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: The President CALLED ON the wealthy countries for financial aid after the floods destroyed much of the country's agriculture.
  2. Visit
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: As we were in the area, we CALLED ON my sister-in-law.
  3. Challenge
    (Separable [obligatory] | International English)
    » Example: He CALLED the speaker ON several mis-statements of fact.
  4. Ask someone to do something, especially to speak in public. (Formal)
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: I now CALL ON the other party to give their account of what happened.

Call out

  1. Expose or accuse someone of wrongdoing or incompetence
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: He CALLED them OUT over awarding contracts to family members.

Call round

  1. Visit
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: I CALLED ROUND on my way home but no one was in.

Call up

  1. Summon someone for military service
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: The army CALLED UP the reserve soldiers when the war broke out.
  2. Telephone
    (Separable [optional] | International English)
    » Example: I CALLED him UP as soon as I got to a phone to tell him the news.

Take our Exercise on 'CALL'

Quiz for Verb: 'To CALL'

Choose the correct definition for each phrasal verb...

'Call for' means...

'Call out' means...

'Call after' means...

'Call at' means...

'Call off' means...

'Call up' means...

'Call on' means...

'Call up' means...

'Call on' means...

'Call back' means...

 

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