AAAmerican Accent US

call for

Inseparable

The verb and particle never split. The object always follows the whole phrase.

How to say it

Stress the particle, not the verb: call FOR. Saying “CALL for” is the clearest learner tell — the verb stays light and the particle carries the beat.

No pause between the words. /l/ runs straight into /f/ — “call for” is one rhythmic unit with a single stressed beat on the particle.

What it means

  1. To require or demand something.

    • “This situation calls for a much more careful approach.”
    • “The recipe calls for two eggs, not three.”

    Similar: require, demand

The particle logic

for

A target, a purpose, or a substitution.

Listen + practice

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More CALL phrasal verbs

Compare the whole family →

call off

To cancel a planned event.

call back

To return someone's phone call.

call up

To telephone someone.

call on

To ask someone to speak or to act.

call in

To summon a professional for help.

call out

To shout in order to attract attention.

call for — meaning, examples & how to say it