callback

American  

[kawl-bak] / ˈkɔlˌbæk /

Or call-back

noun

• callbacks
  plural

1. an act of calling back.

2. a summoning of workers back to work after a layoff.

3. a summoning of an employee back to work after working hours, as for emergency business.

4. a request to a performer who has auditioned for a role, booking, or the like to return for another audition.

5. recall.

6. a return telephone call.

7. an allusion to a joke made earlier in the same comedy act or show.

   The kitten yelling “Quiet!” at the end was a callback to earlier in the episode when the two normally silent brothers shouted it.

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adjective

1. of or relating to a return telephone call.

   Please leave a callback number.

verb phrase

1. to telephone (a person) who has called earlier.

   Our staff will call you back within 24 hours.

2. to summon or bring back; recall.

   He called back the messenger.

   The actor was called back for a second audition.

3. to revoke; retract.

   to call back an accusation.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• callbacks
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of callback

First recorded in 1925–30; noun use of verb phrase call back

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

callback callbacks

"So when I got the callback about a week later, I was completely shocked."

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

He says the multi-director approach is a callback to the early days of Warner Bros.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026

“Given this slow job market, any movement — a callback, an interview and certainly an offer — is precious for job seekers,” Glassdoor said.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 24, 2026

By the time Wright and I spoke last week, he still hadn’t gotten a callback.

From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2026

And speaking of performing, let’s get on to the audition callback, okay?

From "Better Nate Than Ever" by Tim Federle

Gyllenhaal’s love for other variations of this story is right up there onscreen with brash callbacks to Mel Brooks’ 1974 “Young Frankenstein” and the underrated “Frankenhooker.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 4, 2026

A total of 90% of the calls are now resolved by self-service options or callbacks.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 20, 2026

The 21st has been defined by recycled ideas and digitally remixed callbacks to the past.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 5, 2025

Logic is ditched for franchise callbacks and Easter eggs, dubious subplots and laying track for the inevitable next sequel.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 5, 2025

June convinced me to sign up after the callbacks list was posted.

From "P.S. I Miss You" by Jen Petro-Roy

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