Showing results for "calling"

• present participle of call.

calling

American  

[kaw-ling] / ˈkɔ lɪŋ /

noun

• callings
  plural

1. the act of a person or thing that calls.

2. vocation, profession, or trade.

   What is your calling?

   Synonyms:

   field, specialty, forte, province, mission

3. a call or summons.

   He had a calling to join the church.

4. a strong impulse or inclination.

   She did it in response to an inner calling.

5. a convocation.

   the calling of Congress.

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calling British  

/ ˈkɔːlɪŋ /

noun

1. a strong inner urge to follow an occupation, etc; vocation

2. an occupation, profession, or trade

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• callings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of calling

Middle English word dating back to 1200–50; see origin at call, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

calling callings

Refrain from calling her a pathological liar, even if just to yourself, as that will color your response to her.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 29, 2026

The Navy has disputed some of the reporting, with Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao calling accounts of the crew’s struggles dishonest.

From Salon ● Aug. 29, 2026

Billy Long, who was later confirmed in the diplomatic role, apologized for the comment, calling it inappropriate and “not something that I said as a pronouncement that was serious.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026

This includes one supersite in the countryside of Over, Gloucestershire, which Charlie Coats, chairman of Highnam Parish Council, is calling for the Environment Agency to also deal with.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

And Mutti was stumbling after her, calling for her to stop.

From "An Elephant in the Garden" by Michael Morpurgo

Both futures speak to him as true callings, both as worthy directions for his soul’s devotion.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026

Educating young people about classical music and, most importantly, exposing them to the joys of it, remains one of Conlon’s most urgent callings.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 13, 2024

He is generous with details and evocative descriptions of his many callings.

From Washington Times ● Jan. 24, 2023

Working long hours in my callings was part of the appeal.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 30, 2022

“No. We don’t get callings because we live so far. How about you? Do you play in the praise band at your new church?”

From "The Serpent King" by Jeff Zentner