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
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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
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Recent Examples of call off
In 2021, the couple called off their engagement, and Lopez soon rekindled her romance with Ben Affleck.
—
David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
SpaceX's plans to launch four small communications satellites to a high Earth orbit were called off as the countdown reached T-0 seconds on Saturday (Dec. 1).
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 21 Dec. 2024
Smith, now 74, was scheduled to be executed for the 1989 killings of his estranged wife and her teenage sons before it was called off.
—Landon Mion, Fox News, 28 Dec. 2024
The search was called off after search and rescue teams failed to find the man.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for call off 
David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
SpaceX's plans to launch four small communications satellites to a high Earth orbit were called off as the countdown reached T-0 seconds on Saturday (Dec. 1).
—Mike Wall, Space.com, 21 Dec. 2024
Smith, now 74, was scheduled to be executed for the 1989 killings of his estranged wife and her teenage sons before it was called off.
—Landon Mion, Fox News, 28 Dec. 2024
The search was called off after search and rescue teams failed to find the man.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for call off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for call off
Verb
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After all, we too are drawn to violent, meaningless spectacle to distract us from matters of substance.—
Chris Vognar,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Jan. 2025
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Police warned those in attendance to keep their hands down so as not to distract from the formal proceedings.—
Ashleigh Fields,
The Hill,
15 Jan. 2025
Verb
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New presidents can — and often do — issue orders to cancel the orders of their predecessors.—
Josh Boak,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Jan. 2025
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Trump is expected to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil and gas drilling projects, reversing the Biden administration's September 2023 decision to cancel leases as part of efforts to protect 13 million acres of wilderness, The Washington Postreported.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
20 Jan. 2025
Verb
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For example, Trump vowed during the presidential campaign to deny Newsom federal money to fight wildfires unless the governor diverted more water to farms.—
George Skelton,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2025
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Instead of being snatched from the air by the tower's chopstick arms, the booster was diverted to an off-shore splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico, safely disposing of the rocket stage away from populated areas about seven minutes after liftoff.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
9 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Beginning in July 1997, Thailand, Indonesia and South Korea abandoned dollar pegs, sending currencies tumbling.—
William Pesek,
Forbes,
17 Jan. 2025
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But after no prime number appeared through = 10, the project was abandoned.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Some of these Californians in homes that burnt like this were thrown off of their policies, their fire policies – GOV.—
NBC News,
NBC News,
12 Jan. 2025
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Several key mistakes could throw off the accuracy of blood pressure readings for people who take them at home.—
Melissa Rudy,
Fox News,
12 Jan. 2025
Verb
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And after Trump won this past November's election, his lawyers argued that the case had to be scrapped to avoid impinging on his upcoming presidency and his transition to the Oval Office.—
MICHAEL R. SISAK,
TIME,
10 Jan. 2025
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And after Trump won this past November’s election, his lawyers argued that the case had to be scrapped to avoid impinging on his upcoming presidency and his transition to the Oval Office.—
Michelle L. Price,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The legal authority to revoke birthright citizenship is a matter of significant debate.—
Justin Gest,
Newsweek,
21 Jan. 2025
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The order particularly directs the Interior Department to reinstate drillings rights there that were revoked under the Biden administration and seeks to review a lease sale there by the Biden administration that ultimately flopped.—
Rachel Frazin,
The Hill,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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During Starship's last test flight in November, the maneuver was aborted.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
13 Jan. 2025
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An aircraft aborted takeoff at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) on Friday morning, with passengers using emergency slides to deboard, according to a statement the airport posted online, which noted that four passengers reported minor injuries.—
Alex Nitzberg,
Fox News,
10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near call off
Cite this Entry
“Call off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/call%20off. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.
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