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Showing Results for "calling"
See Also:
  • present participle of call.
Synonyms

calling

American  
[kaw-ling] / ˈkɔ lɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act of a person or thing that calls.

  2. vocation, profession, or trade.

    What is your calling?

    Synonyms:
    field, specialty, forte, province, mission
  3. a call or summons.

    He had a calling to join the church.

  4. a strong impulse or inclination.

    She did it in response to an inner calling.

  5. a convocation.

    the calling of Congress.


calling British  
/ ˈkɔːlɪŋ /

noun

  1. a strong inner urge to follow an occupation, etc; vocation

  2. an occupation, profession, or trade

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of calling

Middle English word dating back to 1200–50; see origin at call, -ing 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Department of Veterans Affairs is calling for bids to build fewer than a third of that number with a delivery date seven months later.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

Andy, helm of the inshore lifeboat, said Marley and Dai had done "exactly the right things" by wearing life jackets, staying with the kayak and calling for help.

From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026

Trucking executives are calling an end to one of the longest freight downturns in carriers’ memory.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 10, 2026

The NGO is also calling for the introduction of quotas to ensure women's representation in senior management roles.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

The only thing my calling attracted that time was an old hog that nearly scared me to death.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

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