CALLED (ON) Synonyms: 76 Similar and Opposite Words

called on

phrase

variants or called upon

past tense of call on

as in relied

to place reliance or trust She's the one I call on when I need a friend.

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in asked

to make a request of She called on me for a ride to the airport.

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in begged

to make a request to (someone) in an earnest or urgent manner They called on a specialist after other avenues had failed.

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of called on Fellow veterans Darnell Mooney and Braxton Berrios could be called upon to replace Austin in the slot. — Dan Duggan, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 When one student is called upon, all students repeat their peer’s name and turn their heads toward them. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026 Agnatic primogeniture, directly inherited from the Salic Law, stipulates that in the event of death or abdication, the sovereign’s closest male relative is called upon to ascend the throne. — Séraphine Roger, Vanity Fair, 20 Aug. 2026 Apple Music’s announcement comes weeks after an RIAA and IFPI-led initiative called upon the streaming services to add AI labels to the platform in a manner similar to how explicit tracks are disclosed. — Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 20 Aug. 2026 The Hoodoo tradition presumes a belief in a supernatural or spirit world that can be called upon for assistance, often through charms and incantations. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Aug. 2026 Simpson remembers what that feeling was like; being called upon second. — Benjamin Royer, Oc Register, 14 Aug. 2026 Samson Johnson came next, who proved capable whenever called upon and is now in the G League. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026 And he might be called upon to carry a significant role as a rookie given the season-ending knee injury to Ricky Pearsall while Jauan Jennings left in free agency for the Minnesota Vikings. — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 11 Aug. 2026

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“Called on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/called%20on. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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