Phrase guide

call off

verb · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To recall; to cancel or call a halt to.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

Examples

  • If you want me to call off the dog, then get off my land.
  • After four months, the police called off the search for the missing boy.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cancel, withcall

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To telephone in one's notice of a day's absence from work.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: call in sick

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

give the calls (to the dancers) for a square dance

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: call

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

postpone indefinitely or annul something that was scheduled

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Call off the engagement
  • cancel the dinner party
  • we had to scrub our vacation plans
  • scratch that meeting--the chair is ill

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: cancel, scratch, scrub

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

18 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: odvolat — to cancel
  • Finnish: perua — to cancel
  • Georgian: გაჩერება (gačereba) — to cancel
  • Georgian: შეჩერება (šečereba) — to cancel
  • Georgian: შეწყვეტა (šec̣q̇veṭa) — to cancel
  • German: absagen — to cancel
  • Irish: cuir ar ceal — to cancel
  • Navajo: ánéísįįh — to cancel
  • Polish: odwołać — to cancel
  • Portuguese: cancelar — to cancel
  • Russian: отзывать (otzyvatʹ) — to cancel
  • Russian: отменять (otmenjatʹ) — to cancel
  • Spanish: cancelar — to cancel
  • Spanish: terminar — to cancel
  • Spanish: parar — to cancel
  • Turkish: iptal — to cancel
  • Ukrainian: відміня́ти (vidminjáty) — to cancel
  • Ukrainian: відклика́ти (vidklykáty) — to cancel