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

El Niño has continued to strengthen to what some scientists are calling "unprecedented levels", weeks before its expected peak in December.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026

But a new study is calling into question the very demographic data underpinning that conviction.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

A nurse calling for the spiritual care team to visit quietly with the mother of a dying child.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026

Two months later, Raman unveiled a plan to ask voters to rewrite Measure ULA, calling for her ballot proposal to be fast-tracked to the council.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026

Clare continued in slow, careful terms: “You will live here. You will direct the souls of Deadwood to their eternal fate. The job I have been doing… is your calling now.”

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

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

Both schools are grounded in moral principle, both reach for higher callings.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 24, 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