Phrasal verb
call on
Meanings
to visit someone, usually briefly or for a particular purpose
to formally ask someone to speak, answer, or take action
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to request help, support, or action from a person, group, or organization
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Definition
To call on someone is to visit them, especially briefly or for a specific purpose.
“Call on” most commonly means to visit a person or place for a short time, often for work or a planned reason. It can also mean to formally ask someone to speak or to do something, or to request help from an organization or group. The meaning is usually clear from the context: visiting happens in person, while asking happens in meetings or public situations.
Examples
- I’ll call on you after work to drop off the keys.
- The moderator called on her to explain the main point.
- They called on the city to improve the street lighting near the station.
- He called on his grandparents during his weekend trip.
- We called on the next speaker to begin the presentation.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse “call on” (visit or formally ask) with “call up” or “call” (telephone).
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.