Phrase guide

call on

verb · 6 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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1

verb

Meaning 1

To visit (a person); to pay a call to.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • I really should call on my aunt more often.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: pay a visit, visit, wait on

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To select (a student in a classroom, etc.) to provide an answer.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • He sat there, baffled, hoping nobody would call on him.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To request or ask something of (a person); to select for a task.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • The king called on his subjects to take up arms and defend the kingdom.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: call upon

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To have recourse to.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • Exhausted, he called on his last ounce of strength.
  • The young adventurer set out on the new planet alone, thankful that she could still call on her captain for advice in case of emergency.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: call upon, summon up

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

To correct; to point out an error or untruth.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ditransitive, idiomatic, transitive

Examples

  • The salesman persisted in quoting a rate higher than was listed, until we called him on it.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: correct, call out

Antonyms: none provided

6

verb

Meaning 6

have recourse to or make an appeal or request for help or information to

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • She called on her Representative to help her
  • She turned to her relatives for help

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: turn

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: appeal, invoke

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: посещавам (poseštavam) — To visit (a person); to pay a call to
  • Polish: wpadać z wizytą — To visit (a person); to pay a call to
  • Polish: wpaść z wizytą — To visit (a person); to pay a call to
  • Ottoman Turkish: زیارت ایتمك (ziyâret etmek) — To visit (a person); to pay a call to
  • Bulgarian: изпитвам (izpitvam) — To [[select]] (a student in a classroom, etc.) to provide an answer
  • Polish: brać do odpowiedzi — To [[select]] (a student in a classroom, etc.) to provide an answer
  • Polish: wziąć do odpowiedzi — To [[select]] (a student in a classroom, etc.) to provide an answer
  • Spanish: purrir la palabra a — To [[select]] (a student in a classroom, etc.) to provide an answer
  • Spanish: interpelar a — To [[select]] (a student in a classroom, etc.) to provide an answer