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.
"We have decided to call off all games on August 5-6 until comprehensive safety measures are established," the KBO said in a statement, citing risks to players and fans as extreme temperatures persist.
From Barron's ● Aug. 5, 2026
Protest leaders said they would call off demonstrations after the government agreed to compensate families of students who took their lives.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 25, 2026
At one point on Monday evening, it seemed like that the CJP might be willing to call off their protest following their meeting.
From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026
That prompted ABC to call off the premiere days before it was set to run.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 3, 2026
I started wondering if Big Rose would want to call off this game.
From "The Stars Beneath Our Feet" by David Barclay Moore
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.
