calling 1 of 2

calling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of call
1
2
as in dialing
to make a telephone call to use this cell phone to call me if there's an emergency

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
5
6
as in crying
to utter one's distinctive animal sound the dog called whenever it flushed a quail

Synonyms & Similar Words

7
8
as in estimating
to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement let's call that five feet for now, and we'll measure it out later

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

9
10
11
as in ordering
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority the union president is refusing to call a strike

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

12

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun calling differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of calling are business, employment, métier, occupation, pursuit, and work. While all these words mean "a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living," calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.

the ministry seemed my true calling

Where would business be a reasonable alternative to calling?

While in some cases nearly identical to calling, business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs.

the business of managing a hotel

In what contexts can employment take the place of calling?

The words employment and calling can be used in similar contexts, but employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer.

your employment with this firm is hereby terminated

When might métier be a better fit than calling?

The synonyms métier and calling are sometimes interchangeable, but métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.

acting was my one and only métier

When can occupation be used instead of calling?

The meanings of occupation and calling largely overlap; however, occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.

his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

When is it sensible to use pursuit instead of calling?

Although the words pursuit and calling have much in common, pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.

her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

When would work be a good substitute for calling?

While the synonyms work and calling are close in meaning, work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.

her work as a hospital volunteer

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 calling
Noun
While defensive versatility has always been Lopez's primary calling card, Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors noted that his glovework slipped somewhat last season. Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 21 Mar. 2025 Erik Cárdenas: Zócalo Health was born out of both a personal and professional calling. The Sorenson Impact Institute, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025 At the annual league meetings on Tuesday, NFL team owners agreed to table the vote on a proposal to ban the play that became the Philadelphia Eagles' calling card over the past couple of seasons. Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 2 Apr. 2025 The final round of auditions wrapped up on Sunday night, with a performance from 17-year-old high school graduate Canaan James Hill, who graduated early to pursue his calling of becoming a preacher. Shania Russell, EW.com, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for calling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for calling
Noun
  • In this slice-of-life portrait, Chen shows how childhood experiences can shape someone, illustrating how a childhood passion might expand their horizons without necessarily becoming a lifelong vocation.
    Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 29 Mar. 2025
  • In his previous vocation as a real estate developer, Trump became familiar with the things that make a building more than merely functional but surpassingly beautiful.
    Peter Tonguette, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Among its selections this spring is this 2001 satire that, considering climate change and our incoming administration, will probably still hit pretty hard.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2025
  • The rule could have prevented the government from considering important health research in setting pollution limits.
    Eric Nost, The Conversation, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • In the latest version of the Files by Google app, summoning Gemini while looking at a PDF gives you the option to ask about the file, writes Android Police.
    Wes Davis, The Verge, 21 Dec. 2024
  • By the 1980s, when more modern methods of summoning help had supplanted its usefulness, the tower remained as a beacon for bored teenagers.
    Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 18 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The dolphin deaths that are happening on the beaches are making this event even more tragic, Warner said, estimating that by the start of this week, more than 50 dolphins just in Los Angeles County had died.
    Erika I. Ritchie, Orange County Register, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Potentially more than 46,000 vehicles could require the fix, Tesla said, while conservatively estimating that only 1 percent of cars are likely defective.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Harvick raised his voice about why the appeals process hadn't been made public, asking what is there to hide.
    Mark Davis, Newsweek, 15 Mar. 2025
  • This prompted one Keller parent to sue the school board, asking a judge to intervene in the split and prevent the board from future violations of the law.
    Cody Copeland and, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The 49ers being the sixth favorite to win the Super Bowl next year seems insane and more based on past success rather than predicting future success.
    Mark Davis, Newsweek, 16 Mar. 2025
  • Analysts estimate that if the full 125% tariff hits without mitigation, iPhones could jump significantly in price—some predicting future models could reach $3,500.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • This is especially because of the kinds of changes, including major layoffs and project cancellations, that have been implemented at other government organizations by request of the Trump administration.
    Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Experts have previously told the Tribune that the mass student visa cancellations may cause some students with strong training and educational background in STEM fields to take their skills elsewhere.
    Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Richard Hendricks, Pied Piper’s founder and the primary author of that algorithm, is a coder by profession but an idealist by nature.
    Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2025
  • The native Texan has a short résumé, mainly because playing Georgie became something of a permanent profession.
    Skyler Trepel, EW.com, 16 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Calling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/calling. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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