calling
noun
call·ing ˈkȯ-liŋ 
1
: a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence
2
: the vocation or profession in which one customarily engages
3
: the characteristic cry of a female cat in heat
also : the period of heat
Synonyms
- abandonment
- abortion
- calling off
- cancellation
- cancelation
- dropping
- recall
- recision
- repeal
- rescission
- revocation
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
He had always felt a calling to help others. He experienced a calling to enter the priesthood.
Recent Examples on the Web The most grievous play-calling probably came with just less than 10 minutes left an New England trailing, 20-7. 
Dan Shaughnessy, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2022 It’s the reason Smith reacted strongly during the preseason game against the Jets and why his aggressive play-calling led to a fourth-quarter comeback against the Detroit Lions. Jaylon Thompson, USA TODAY, 11 Sep. 2022 Quarterback coach Brandon Streeter takes over the play-calling on offense after Tony Elliott moved on to Virginia. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 5 Sep. 2022 Quarterback coach Brandon Streeter takes over the play-calling on offense after Tony Elliott moved on to Virginia. Paul Newberry, ajc, 4 Sep. 2022 Cat-and-mouse games with the public over play-calling is nothing new for the Patriots, who have rebuffed questions about Josh McDaniels’ game-day successor since the spring. Andrew Callahan, Hartford Courant, 29 Aug. 2022 Mayfield also raised eyebrows by publicly questioning Stefanski’s play-calling. Tom Withers, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2022 The Pats coach was talking about offensive play-calling. Paul Daugherty, The Enquirer, 15 Dec. 2021 That helped Kingsbury justify his play-calling for 35 run plays compared to his minimal 15 pass plays for 123 yards in the Cardinals' win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. Dana Scott, The Arizona Republic, 9 Dec. 2021 See More
Dan Shaughnessy, BostonGlobe.com, 11 Sep. 2022 It’s the reason Smith reacted strongly during the preseason game against the Jets and why his aggressive play-calling led to a fourth-quarter comeback against the Detroit Lions. Jaylon Thompson, USA TODAY, 11 Sep. 2022 Quarterback coach Brandon Streeter takes over the play-calling on offense after Tony Elliott moved on to Virginia. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 5 Sep. 2022 Quarterback coach Brandon Streeter takes over the play-calling on offense after Tony Elliott moved on to Virginia. Paul Newberry, ajc, 4 Sep. 2022 Cat-and-mouse games with the public over play-calling is nothing new for the Patriots, who have rebuffed questions about Josh McDaniels’ game-day successor since the spring. Andrew Callahan, Hartford Courant, 29 Aug. 2022 Mayfield also raised eyebrows by publicly questioning Stefanski’s play-calling. Tom Withers, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2022 The Pats coach was talking about offensive play-calling. Paul Daugherty, The Enquirer, 15 Dec. 2021 That helped Kingsbury justify his play-calling for 35 run plays compared to his minimal 15 pass plays for 123 yards in the Cardinals' win over the Chicago Bears on Sunday. Dana Scott, The Arizona Republic, 9 Dec. 2021 See More Word History
First Known Use
13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing calling
Kids Definition
calling
noun
call·ing ˈkȯ-liŋ
: a profession especially that a person feels strongly about
Teaching was his true calling.
Medical Definition
calling
noun
call·ing ˈkȯ-liŋ
: the characteristic cry of a female cat in heat
also : the period of heat
calling 1 of 2
noun
1
as in cancellation
the act of putting an end to something planned or previously agreed to the calling of the match was a disappointment to both players Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- cancellation
- repeal
- cancelation
- abandonment
- abolition
- dropping
- recall
- revocation
- abortion
- rescission
- ending
- stopping
- calling off
- recision
- termination
- halting
- surrender
- abolishment
- invalidation
- nullification
- annulment
- neutralization
- reversal
- relinquishment
- giving up
- rollback
- voidance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continuation
- beginning
- initiation
- undertaking
- commencement
- engagement
2
as in work
the activity by which one regularly makes a living I think my true calling will be as a commercial artist Synonyms & Similar Words
- work
- profession
- occupation
- vocation
- line
- employment
- lay
- call
- trade
- game
- job
- duty
- living
- mission
- task
- business
- position
- assignment
- place
- office
- art
- livelihood
- field
- enterprise
- engagement
- function
- racket
- situation
- appointment
- post
- lifework
- gig
- load
- craft
- métier
- metier
- handicraft
- handcraft
- billet
- berth
- workload
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pursuit
- hobby
- avocation
calling
2 of 2verb
1
as in shouting
to speak so as to be heard at a distance we could hear someone calling for help from the other side of the wall Synonyms & Similar Words
- shouting
- yelling
- crying
- hollering
- screaming
- vociferating
- hallooing
- bellowing
- thundering
- bawling
- baying
- holloing
- roaring
- whooping
- shrieking
- screeching
- hailing
- shrilling
- sounding off
- crowing
- squeaking
- howling
- caterwauling
- ululating
- wailing
- yawping
- yauping
- squealing
- yowling
- speaking out
- speaking up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- whispering
- muttering
- breathing
- murmuring
- mumbling
2
as in dialing
to make a telephone call to use this cell phone to call me if there's an emergency Synonyms & Similar Words
- dialing
- phoning
- telephoning
- dialling
- beeping
- buzzing
- ringing (up)
- calling in
- cold-calling
3
as in visiting
to make a brief visit the hospital posts the hours during which friends and relatives may call Synonyms & Similar Words
- visiting
- seeing
- coming over
- dropping in
- dropping by
- running in
- stepping in
- coming by
- running (over)
- stopping (by or in)
- haunting
- popping (in)
- frequenting
- looking up
- barging (in)
- bopping (into)
- resorting (to)
- happening (by)
- hanging (at)
4
as in canceling
to put an end to (something planned or previously agreed to) the game was called on account of rain Synonyms & Similar Words
- canceling
- abandoning
- cancelling
- scrapping
- revoking
- aborting
- recalling
- repealing
- rescinding
- dropping
- scrubbing
- withdrawing
- terminating
- suspending
- calling off
- interrupting
- reversing
- stopping
- halting
- retracting
- ending
- invalidating
- nullifying
- recanting
- crying off
- annulling
- abrogating
- countermanding
- discontinuing
- voiding
- relinquishing
- writing off
- taking back
- rolling back
- surrendering
- holding back
- breaking off
- giving up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- continuing
- keeping
- starting
- initiating
- beginning
- engaging
- promising
- commencing
- pledging
- undertaking
- taking up
- taking on
5
as in considering
to think of in a particular way I wouldn't quite call that cheating, but it's not entirely ethical either Synonyms & Similar Words
- considering
- regarding
- viewing
- counting
- thinking
- believing
- holding
- accounting
- deeming
- feeling
- rating
- reckoning
- imagining
- taking for
- setting down
- sensing
- esteeming
- looking (on or upon)
- fancying
- conceiving
6
as in crying
to utter one's distinctive animal sound the dog called whenever it flushed a quail Synonyms & Similar Words
- crying
- singing
7
as in summoning
to bring together in assembly by or as if by command called all the night workers in for a meeting Synonyms & Similar Words
- summoning
- mustering
- assembling
- convening
- convoking
- rallying
- gathering
- grouping
- calling out
- collecting
- calling in
- calling up
- amassing
- knelling
- reassembling
- reconvening
- rounding up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dissolving
- breaking up
8
as in estimating
to decide the size, amount, number, or distance of (something) without actual measurement let's call that five feet for now, and we'll measure it out later Synonyms & Similar Words
- estimating
- making
- figuring
- putting
- calculating
- guessing
- supposing
- gauging
- judging
- placing
- reckoning
- conjecturing
- inferring
- concluding
- deducing
- extrapolating
- understanding
- gathering
- reasoning
- gaging
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- measuring
- scaling
- calibrating
- computing
- working out
9
as in asking
to demand or request the presence or service of rushed to call a tow truck operator when the car broke down Synonyms & Similar Words
- summoning
- asking
- hailing
- requesting
- inviting
- ordering
- invoking
- ringing
- beckoning
- citing
- sending for
- demanding
- assembling
- bidding
- convening
- calling out
- subpoenaing
- whistling
- mustering
- calling up
- convoking
- paging
- requisitioning
- commanding
- buzzing
- knelling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dismissing
- sending (away)
- turning away
- routing
- banishing
- expelling
- ejecting
- ousting
- kicking out
- outing
- drumming (out)
- throwing out
- booting (out)
- casting out
- running off
- turfing (out)
10
as in naming
to give a name to we've decided to call the kitten "Molly" Synonyms & Similar Words
- naming
- labeling
- terming
- dubbing
- nominating
- designating
- nicknaming
- labelling
- titling
- entitling
- denominating
- baptizing
- styling
- specifying
- cleping
- baptising
- christening
- renaming
- stigmatizing
- branding
- tagging
- denoting
- miscalling
- misnaming
- relabeling
- rechristening
- mistitling
- code-naming
- relabelling
- surnaming
11
as in ordering
to request the doing of by virtue of one's authority the union president is refusing to call a strike Synonyms & Similar Words
- ordering
- requesting
- asking
- requiring
- mandating
- demanding
- dictating
- directing
- decreeing
- petitioning
- calling for
- commanding
- ordaining
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- cancelling
- canceling
- rescinding
- countermanding
12
as in predicting
to tell of or describe beforehand somehow the political pundit called the race results within a mere percentage point Synonyms & Similar Words
- predicting
- reading
- announcing
- warning
- forecasting
- anticipating
- prophesying
- presaging
- foretelling
- prognosticating
- alerting
- auguring
- vaticinating
- cautioning
- proclaiming
- foreseeing
- promising
- declaring
- forewarning
- divining
- portending
- heralding
- foreboding
- boding
- foreknowing
- forboding
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- telling
- describing
- relating
- reporting
- reciting
- recounting
- narrating
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of calling are business, employment, métier, occupation, pursuit, and work. While all these words mean "a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living," calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.
the ministry seemed my true calling
While in some cases nearly identical to calling, business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs.
the business of managing a hotel
The words employment and calling can be used in similar contexts, but employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer.
your employment with this firm is hereby terminated
The synonyms métier and calling are sometimes interchangeable, but métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.
acting was my one and only métier
The meanings of occupation and calling largely overlap; however, occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.
his occupation as a trained auto mechanic
Although the words pursuit and calling have much in common, pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.
her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit
While the synonyms work and calling are close in meaning, work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.
her work as a hospital volunteer
Phrases Containing calling
- philoprogeneity
- philoprogenitive
- philoprogenitiveness
- philoprogenitivenesses
- philopterid
- Philopteridae
- philos
- Philosamia
- philosophaster
- philosophastering
- philosophasters
- philosophastry
- philosophate
- philosophe
- philosopheme
- philosopher
- philosopher's game
- philosopher's stone
- philosopher's table
- philosopher's wool
- philosopheresses
- philosophers
- philosophers' egg
- philosophers' oil
- philosophes