Phrasal verb
call back
Meanings
to return someone’s phone call; phone someone again
to ask someone to return a phone call later
Definition
To call back means to return someone’s phone call or contact them again.
To call back is to phone someone again, especially after you missed their call or need to respond. It can also mean asking someone to return a call later. In customer service, it often refers to contacting a customer again to continue helping them.
Examples
- I saw your missed call, so I’ll call back after my meeting.
- Can you call back in ten minutes when I’m free?
- He tried to call back, but the line was busy.
- She said she would call back once she found the order details.
- They promised to call back before the end of the day.
Common mistake
Learners often say "call to back" or "call again back" instead of simply "call back."
More phrasal verbs
- go on To go on means to continue or keep happening.
- carry out To carry out something means to do it or complete it, especially a plan, task, or instruction.
- set up To set up means to arrange or prepare something so it is ready to use or happen.
- pick up “Pick up” most commonly means to collect someone or something from a place, usually by going there.
- go back To go back means to return to a place, time, or earlier situation.