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call out — to shout or speak loudly to get someone's attention

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to shout or speak loudly to get someone's attention

Pronunciation (IPA): /kɔːl aʊt/

Example Sentences

  • My mom called out 'Dinner's ready!' but I was too busy gaming to hear.
  • The referee called out the player for unsportsmanlike conduct.
  • When the cat got stuck in the tree, we had to call out the fire department like in the movies.

call out

VERB

[/kɔːl aʊt/]

to shout or speak loudly to get someone's attention

The coach decided to call out the player who skipped practice all week.
💡 Concept

The coach decided to call out the player who skipped practice all week.

Got the picture? Now let's practice.

🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/kɔːl aʊt/
🇬🇧 UK/kɔːl aʊt/

🌳Etymology

Rootcall
Suffix-out

Origin

The phrasal verb 'call out' combines two Germanic roots: 'call' derives from Old Norse 'kalla' (to call, summon) and 'out' from Old English 'ūt' (outward, away). The compound emerged in Middle English as a natural fusion of these elements, originally meaning 'to call or shout outward'.

Breakdown

call (Old Norse 'kalla': to summon, call) + out (Old English 'ūt': outward, beyond). The combination creates the sense of calling someone's attention from a distance or making a public announcement.

🎵Rhyme

shout
about
without
throughout

🔗Collocations

call out loudly
call out someone's name
call out for help
call out the troops
call out bad behavior
call out across the room

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

“My mom called out 'Dinner's ready!' but I was too busy gaming to hear.”

“The referee called out the player for unsportsmanlike conduct.”

😄 Fun example

“When the cat got stuck in the tree, we had to call out the fire department like in the movies.”

“She called out his name three times before he finally looked up from his phone.”

📚Related Words

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