call off
Britishverb
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to cancel or abandon
the game was called off because of rain
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to order (an animal or person) to desist or summon away
the man called off his dog
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to stop (something) or give the order to stop
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Summon away, restrain, as in Please call off your dog . [Early 1600s]
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Cancel some plan or undertaking, as in She decided to call off their engagement , or In case of rain the picnic will be called off . [Late 1800s]
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.
That prompted ABC to call off the premiere days before it was set to run.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
A formal decision to call off the races has not yet been made but is expected before the end of the weekend.
From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026
The negotiations are happening as WGA West’s own staff members have been on strike, forcing the guild to call off its L.A.-based award show.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026
Europe's ESO star-gazing organisation on Monday welcomed plans to call off building a massive green energy project in the Chilean desert which threatened to spoil its telescopes' view of the darkest skies on Earth.
From Barron's • Feb. 2, 2026
“You need to call off the sheydim,” she said firmly.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
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.
