call-up
noun
an order to report for active military service.
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c-l-u-.
call-up
American
[kawl-uhp]
/ ˈkɔlˌʌp /
noun
-
call-ups
plural
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an order to report for active military service.
-
the number of persons drafted during a specific period of time.
The November call-up was set at 15,000.
-
a call or urging to service.
call up
British
verb
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to summon to report for active military service, as in time of war
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(tr) to recall (something); evoke
his words called up old memories
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(tr) to bring or summon (people, etc) into action
to call up reinforcements
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to telephone
noun
call up
Idioms
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Summon to military service, as in He was called up for active duty . [Late 1600s]
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Cause to remember, bring to mind, as in These stories call up old times . [c. 1700] Also see call to mind .
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Telephone someone, as in I'll call up the theater and find out about tickets . [Late 1800s]
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Retrieve data from a computer memory, as in I asked him to call up the last quarter's sales figures . [Second half of 1900s]
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of call-up
First recorded in 1625–35; noun use of verb phrase call up
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.
See Examples For:
Pollock has long since outgrown his current deal, signed in December 2024 before his England debut, Champions Cup knockout heroics and British and Irish Lions call-up.
From BBC ● Sep. 16, 2026
And there is no obvious replacement on the 40-man roster pushing for a call-up through an extended period of outstanding play.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 5, 2026
Ryan, who made four major-league starts in 2024, has the stuff to compete in the majors, but health has kept him from another call-up.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
Langton, a late call-up to Team England in the place of the injured six-time Olympic medallist Max Whitlock, was unable to join his teammates on the podium as England collected their silver medals.
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
Because of Margot’s call-up notice, the plan had to be moved up ten days, which meant we’d have to make do with less orderly rooms.
From "The Diary of a Young Girl" by Anne Frank
Many people do not have primary care physicians, and often those who do cannot easily call up their doctors to ask questions.
From Slate ● Aug. 26, 2026
They continually call up guys, have them make one appearance and then no matter how successful they are sent down for a “fresh arm.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
He made just eight appearances, failing to score, so to return at the level he has this season - and earn a maiden Brazil call up - is a testament to his quality and self-belief.
From BBC ● Apr. 2, 2026
The Jamaican side have been forced to call up a number of academy players for the fixture.
From BBC ● Mar. 10, 2026
"By the time we save enough for a ticket, I'll have a long white beard," I call up to Rani as I shift uncomfortably on the ground.
From "Born Behind Bars" by Padma Venkatraman
So, when manager Dave Roberts was asked in Detroit whether the Dodgers would consider setting up a left-field platoon with the team’s September call-ups, he said yes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
By late August, it was obvious Freeman would be among the Braves’ call-ups when rosters expanded on Sept. 1.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
At the same time, Morocco was steadily reshaping its approach - forging close ties with dual-national players long before senior call-ups became a reality.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
As well as Pattinson and Denton, there have been call-ups for Tottenham's Ella Morris and Manchester City's Naomi Layzell before they sustained lengthy injuries.
From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2026
Arriving at Villa after winning a second European Championship with England Under-21s, it has been other young players such as Elliot Anderson and Alex Scott who have earned senior call-ups this season.
From BBC ● Feb. 3, 2026
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
