call off

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

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
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
  • As the plant grows around it, the support becomes almost invisible and does not distract from the plant's beauty.
    Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • Eleven months ago, Queens of the Stone Age cancelled all the remaining dates on their 2024 tour to allow singer Josh Homme to focus on his health.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 31 July 2025
  • But the Trump administration canceled the FEMA program that provided the funds.
    Dante Motley, Austin American Statesman, 31 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
  • Elliott likewise pressed Hyundai to abandon its own restructuring effort and increase its dividend, again using financial discipline as a wedge to improve governance and transparency.
    Marc Cooper, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
  • Minority languages were banned in schools, tribal leaders were silenced, and communities were pressured to abandon their heritage and conform to a rigid Persian identity.
    Jila Andalib, Hartford Courant, 28 July 2025
Verb
  • These factors are enough to make sure that buyers are not completely thrown off by ever-rising home prices.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 July 2025
  • Montgomery said Stephenson is progressing in his throwing program, but is not ready to throw off a mound.
    Mike Digiovanna, Oc Register, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • But in June, the city officially scrapped its plans for the art installation after declining to immediately remove lead found in the tower, Johnson said in a Wednesday phone interview.
    Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2025
  • An unusual rollout plan to release the sequel just seven weeks after the first was scrapped after the movie, made for roughly $100 million, grossed $38 million worldwide.
    Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 1 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • De Moraes revoked Bolsonaro’s passport and issued additional punishments to the leader who allegedly staged a coup with several dozen others following his 2022 electoral loss to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
    Kristina Karisch, The Hill, 31 July 2025
  • The bill would revoke an exemption on ADS-B transmission requests for Department of Defense aircraft.
    Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 31 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

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Cite this Entry

“Call off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20off. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.

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