All phrasal verbs
call
/kɔl/7 phrasal verbsThe plain verb means to shout, name, or telephone.
CALL divides into telephone senses (call back, call up) and summoning senses (call on, call in, call for).
Call off is the outlier: it means cancel, and it is the one you will meet most. Do not confuse it with call out, which is to shout — or, in modern American usage, to publicly criticize someone.
Side by side
Every CALL phrasal verb, with the one line that keeps it apart from its siblings. Tap any one to open it.
| Phrasal verb | Means | How to remember it |
|---|---|---|
| call offSeparable | cancel a planned event | OFF = switch the event to zero. |
| call backSeparable | return someone's phone call | BACK = the call returns to them. |
| call upSeparable | telephone someone | UP = the informal American way to say phone. |
| call onInseparable2 meanings | visit briefly; ask someone to speak | ON = you land on that person. |
| call inSeparable2 meanings | summon a professional; phone your workplace | IN = bring them inside, or phone inside. |
| call outSeparable2 meanings | shout; publicly criticize someone's behaviour | OUT = the voice, or the criticism, goes public. |
| call forInseparable | require or demand | FOR names what is required. |