call to arms

noun phrase

1
: a summons to engage in active hostilities
2
: a summons, invitation, or appeal to undertake a particular course of action
a political call to arms

Examples of call to arms in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Answering this call to arms was CatholicVote and Burch, leading the conservative Catholic charge to lend credibility to conservative lawmakers like Vance and their combative attitude toward a variety of political debates. Liam Adams, USA TODAY, 31 Jan. 2025 So warns Peter Rotter, a music and orchestra contractor who worked on movies such as Avatar, Frozen, and Deadpool, in an open letter to the industry that is serving as a call to arms to mobilize not just the music community, but also studios and production companies. Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 Between the lines: Musk's Wednesday call to arms took place at his point of maximum power. Scott Rosenberg, Axios, 19 Dec. 2024 Overall, the track feels like a call to arms toward Kendrick’s idea of a better world. Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 16 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for call to arms 

Word History

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of call to arms was in 1702

Dictionary Entries Near call to arms

Cite this Entry

“Call to arms.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/call%20to%20arms. Accessed 13 Feb. 2025.

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