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Synonyms

call out

British  

verb

  1. to utter aloud, esp loudly

  2. (tr) to summon

  3. (tr) to order (workers) to strike

  4. (tr) to summon (an employee) to work at a time outside his normal working hours, usually in an emergency

  5. (tr) to challenge to a duel

"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

call out Idioms  
  1. Summon into action or service, as in The governor called out the militia . [Mid-1400s]

  2. Challenge to a fight, as in To avenge the insult, Arthur called him out . This term originated with dueling and is dying out. [Early 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.

"It is an issue for of us and it's an issue particularly I think for men to face up to, to stand up to, to call out," he said.

From BBC • Mar. 27, 2026

Somewhat confusingly Berkshire didn’t call out the $1.6 billion goodwill write-down related to certain units in its earnings release Saturday.

From Barron's • Mar. 3, 2026

In a conversation with the Bulwark’s Tim Miller immediately following Spanberger’s response, Buttigieg pointed out Americans’ anxieties surrounding affordability and homed in on a way to call out the GOP’s hypocrisy.

From Salon • Feb. 25, 2026

Due to its realistic nature and unauthorized use of the actors’ likenesses, both SAG-AFTRA and MPA were among the first to call out the platform.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026

As they rush off, I wave and call out, “Maybe a miracle will happen, and we will meet again someday!”

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar