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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of call off
During Tuesday’s episode of The Drew Barrymore Show, the host and her pals Valerie Bertinelli and Ross Mathews reacted to a PEOPLE report about a woman who called off her wedding after discovering that her fiancé had secretly purchased a house with his mom.
—
Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 1 Apr. 2025
After the woman was rescued, a Fort Worth Fire Department dive team continued searching the river for the infant or other possible victims, but no one else had been found when the car was pulled out of the water and the search was called off late Saturday night, police said.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2025
The remaining three, including two children, are still missing — but authorities have officially called off the search.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025
Although he was sidelined from the hit series, the suspension was later called off.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for call off
Emlyn Travis, EW.com, 1 Apr. 2025
After the woman was rescued, a Fort Worth Fire Department dive team continued searching the river for the infant or other possible victims, but no one else had been found when the car was pulled out of the water and the search was called off late Saturday night, police said.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Mar. 2025
The remaining three, including two children, are still missing — but authorities have officially called off the search.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025
Although he was sidelined from the hit series, the suspension was later called off.
—Jay Stahl, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for call off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off
Verb
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While most of the acting is wonderful (Wyle is predictably great, but so is just about all of the main cast), some patient-of-the-week players err towards distracting histrionics.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
11 Apr. 2025
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Cameras captured her walking around on the grass before getting distracted and Jordan swooping her up to get to their next hole.—
Nasha Smith,
People.com,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The government last month canceled $400 million in funding for Columbia and threatened to withhold billions more, accusing the university in New York of not doing enough to combat antisemitism and to ensure student safety amid last year's Gaza encampment campus protests.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2025
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The Titans recently cancelled pre-draft workouts with Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders, all but guaranteeing that Ward is the pick here.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The fourth plane, Flight 93, was diverted and crashed in Pennsylvania.—
Arick Wierson,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
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Passengers aboard a United Airlines flight were temporarily diverted from their destination after an incident with a rabbit affected the aircraft’s engine.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Heading them is none other than Robert Keller, who wasn’t killed after all, and now blames his big bro for abandoning him.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
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The Indonesian government was floating a moratorium to stop the construction of new hotels, villas and nightclubs in Bali, in an effort to curb over tourism—an idea that was abandoned at the start of the year.—
Michelle Tchea,
Robb Report,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Reliever Michael Kopech is scheduled to throw off a bullpen mound this weekend for the first time since going on the IL because of a shoulder impingement on March 17 but is weeks away from a return.—
Mike Digiovanna,
Oc Register,
11 Apr. 2025
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He’s scheduled to throw off a mound on April 15 and 18 then throw live batting practice on April 23.—
Andrew Wagner,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Pfizer scrapped a different once-daily obesity pill back in June 2023 after patients who took that drug had higher liver enzyme levels in a mid-stage trial.—
Annika Kim Constantino,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2025
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In January, the company scrapped a rights issue of shares, opting to borrow 450 billion won from Ryu to reduce its debt burden, which had ballooned to 1.5 times equity.—
Gloria Haraito,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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On Monday, the Department of Homeland Security revoked the legal status of the immigrants who used that app.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Apr. 2025
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Four University of Florida students have had their visas revoked, the university’s director of public affairs told CNN Friday.—
Kathleen Magramo,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In January, several people were injured after a Delta flight aborted its takeoff at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, forcing about 200 passengers to evacuate the plane through emergency slides.—
Stephen Smith,
CBS News,
21 Apr. 2025
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Despite the mishap, Blue Origin officials have insisted that the capsule is designed to safely abort a spaceflight by ejecting from the rocket and deploying parachutes early if needed – as happened in 2022.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
12 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Call off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20off. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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