Called
/kɔːld/
Definitions
3 meaningsTo give a name or designation to someone or something.
/kɔːld/
To give a name to.
My teacher called on me to answer the question.
💡 Simply: To say the name of.
More Examples
The event was called 'Celebration of Life'.
How It's Used
"They called their daughter Alice."
To utter a sound, typically a loud one.
/kɔːld/
To shout or make a sound.
The fire alarm called loudly.
💡 Simply: To make a sound.
More Examples
He called for help.
How It's Used
"The birds called loudly at dawn."
To make a request or demand; to summon.
/kɔːld/
To make a request, give an instruction.
I called for a taxi.
💡 Simply: To ask for something.
More Examples
He called a halt to the meeting.
How It's Used
"The doctor called for an x-ray."
Idioms & expressions
called for
To require or necessitate something.
"The situation called for immediate action."
From Old English *cēpan, meaning "to seize, catch, summon," related to the word "keep."
In older texts, 'called' often appears in the context of religious or formal pronouncements.
Memory tip
Think of a phone call – you're 'calling' someone by their name.
Word Origin
"To seize, catch, summon"