1
as in to distract
to draw the attention or mind to something else
she was about to tell me the big news when her attention was called off by the arrival of another guest
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to cancel
to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to)
called off the party after half of those invited couldn't make it
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of call off
What to know Heartbroken at Bonnaroo: Artists, fans react to abrupt cancellation, 'this was gonna be a special one' Bonnaroo 2025 canceled: Officials call off shows after severe weather swamps grounds These Bonnaroo performances are canceled due to weather delays.
—
Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Orlando Bloom, who is rumored to be newly single after calling off an engagement to pop star Katy Perry, joined Leonardo DiCaprio and his girlfriend, Vittoria Ceretti, on a taxi boat ride to the airport.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025
His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 9 July 2025
That fixture was eventually called off without a ball bowled.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for call off
Audrey Gibbs, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
Orlando Bloom, who is rumored to be newly single after calling off an engagement to pop star Katy Perry, joined Leonardo DiCaprio and his girlfriend, Vittoria Ceretti, on a taxi boat ride to the airport.
—Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2025
His friend was weeks away from getting married, now the girl called off the wedding.
—Michael Saponara, Billboard, 9 July 2025
That fixture was eventually called off without a ball bowled.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for call off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off
Verb
-
The legal fight threatens to distract from the group's goals in a state where Democrats already struggle to adequately field and fund candidates.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
14 July 2025
-
This all, of course, was not to distract from the center of her makeup look: a matte red lip.—
Essence,
Essence,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
Was the show canceled because late night TV is a relic of the past?—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
19 July 2025
-
Years later, her character was set to lead a separate reboot for Peacock, but the project was canceled in 2021.—
Danny Horn,
EW.com,
19 July 2025
Verb
-
Critics of President Donald Trump have claimed that the release is an effort to divert attention from the Jeffrey Epstein controversy.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
-
With 90% from demolition and 10% from construction, these materials could be diverted from the landfill and sold.—
Linda Thompson Gonzalez,
Sun Sentinel,
20 July 2025
Verb
-
That doesn't mean abandoning your message, just finding the right entry point for your audience in that moment.—
Rachel Weissman,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
Nothing in the proposal Trump announced on Monday is likely to force Putin to abandon that objective.—
Simon Shuster,
Time,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
After some bullpen sessions, Taillon could be ready to throw off of a mound at the end of July or beginning of August.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
18 July 2025
-
However, the volume of content shared by the social-media-savvy president has thrown off investors.—
Ganesh Rao,
CNBC,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
Now the Trump administration has scrapped that process, and appointees enjoy full control over what scientific integrity means and how agencies review and synthesize scientific literature necessary to support and shape policy decisions.—
David Michaels,
The Atlantic,
20 July 2025
-
A couple of days ago, SPORT then reported that the club was ‘close’ to scrapping the plan and explained that a decision would be made on Friday, which has proven to be accurate.—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes.com,
18 July 2025
Verb
-
Ogles’ comments come as the Trump Administration has signed executive orders in an attempt to eliminate DEI programs, in addition to revoking the student visas of international students at universities throughout the country.—
Ruben Montoya,
The Tennessean,
19 July 2025
-
The call for ideas also follows the department’s decision just one day earlier to revoke $4 billion in funding from California’s high-speed rail project.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
17 July 2025
Verb
-
SpaceX tried to launch the mission Monday (July 21) but aborted the try 11 seconds before liftoff, for reasons that the company did not immediately explain.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
22 July 2025
-
Because sons are valued in China, often female pregnancies were aborted.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
18 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Call off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20off. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share