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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of call off
The latest example comes with Florida State, as Georgia and the Seminoles have mutually called off their home-and-home series, Florida State announced Thursday.
—
Connor Riley, AJC.com, 7 May 2026
Also canceling Monday was Dolly Parton, who announced that her Las Vegas residency for later this year was being called off entirely after being postponed earlier.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 4 May 2026
Lai's visit to Eswatini, the only African nation that maintains formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, was called off after the Indian Ocean islands of Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles were pressured by China to withdraw permission for Lai's plane to fly over their territory, Taiwan said.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
Negotiations have continued by phone after Trump called off his envoys’ trip to Pakistan last week, the president said.
—Toqa Ezzidin, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for call off
Connor Riley, AJC.com, 7 May 2026
Also canceling Monday was Dolly Parton, who announced that her Las Vegas residency for later this year was being called off entirely after being postponed earlier.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 4 May 2026
Lai's visit to Eswatini, the only African nation that maintains formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, was called off after the Indian Ocean islands of Madagascar, Mauritius and Seychelles were pressured by China to withdraw permission for Lai's plane to fly over their territory, Taiwan said.
—ABC News, 2 May 2026
Negotiations have continued by phone after Trump called off his envoys’ trip to Pakistan last week, the president said.
—Toqa Ezzidin, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for call off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off
Verb
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This moon phase puts pressure on your love life, creativity or personal passions, especially if you've been emotionally distracted by money worries or self-worth issues.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
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While Jay and Kyle distract the guard, Pete reunites with Amunhotep (everyone's favorite mummy ghost) and the portrait is discovered!—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 May 2026
Verb
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In November 2022, the show was canceled.—
Joyann Jeffrey,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
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An air show at Mountain Home Air Force Base in southwestern Idaho was canceled on Sunday, May 17, after two Navy jets collided midair and crashed during a demonstration, forcing four crew members to eject safely from the aircraft, authorities and base officials said.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Finally, a Stanford study revealed that while AI frees up time, most users divert it to entertainment instead of productive endeavors.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
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But instead of simply passing offshore, increasing numbers are now diverting into San Francisco Bay and lingering for days or even weeks inside the crowded estuary — a shift scientists increasingly link to climate change.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 May 2026
Verb
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Kara Young and Mallori Johnson are absolutely electric as twin sisters who set out to find the estranged, abusive father who abandoned them after leaving them and their mother horribly scarred in a fire.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 May 2026
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This is the legacy Healy wanted to leave, a treasure that is too rich for Central Florida to abandon.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 May 2026
Verb
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The process of transplanting a tree into your garden can throw off the flower production process for a year or two.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
13 May 2026
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Olive Greens Olive greens can be earthy and soothing, but the wrong shade can throw off your home’s exterior.—
Asia London Palomba,
The Spruce,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The economic loss could rise to as much as 100 trillion won if chip production disruptions force Samsung to scrap semiconductor wafers already in production.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
18 May 2026
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After community backlash, CBP’s online planning map showed the 30-foot-wall plans were scrapped for surveillance technology, patrols and some vehicle barriers.—
Julie Watson,
Los Angeles Times,
17 May 2026
Verb
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In North Carolina, permits are immediately revoked if a restaurant scores below 70%.—
Eva Flowe
May 15,
Charlotte Observer,
15 May 2026
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The legal agreement also compels TCH to fire multiple physicians who performed these procedures, revoke their privileges, and never hire or credential such doctors.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The pilots acted quickly to abort the takeoff and avert a crash.—
The Denver Post Editorial Board,
Denver Post,
13 May 2026
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This work kept the first moon landing from being aborted, even though the onboard computer was overloaded.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Call off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20off. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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