call out
Britishverb
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to utter aloud, esp loudly
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(tr) to summon
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(tr) to order (workers) to strike
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(tr) to summon (an employee) to work at a time outside his normal working hours, usually in an emergency
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(tr) to challenge to a duel
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Summon into action or service, as in The governor called out the militia . [Mid-1400s]
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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.
Eventually, once the real reason customers aren’t returning has been revealed, Lofaso will “storm in to shake things up, call out the chaos and whip these teams into shape.”
From Salon • Jul. 5, 2026
I wonder if we’ll finally see some movement to rein in judge shopping if judges actively call out this behavior in their opinions.
From Slate • May 18, 2026
Drake also appears to call out other rappers and stars who were seen to take Lamar's side.
From BBC • May 15, 2026
At halftime, our team was walking toward the locker room when I heard Jack call out to me: “Ron, Ron, wait up.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026
It was too late to call out against what he saw happen next.
From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques
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.
