call out

To say something loudly so that other people can hear it.

• Please call out your name.
• Someone called out for help.
• She called out to us from the balcony.

How to use it: call out to someone (She called out to her brother across the street.); call out something (The teacher called out our names.)

Similar words: shout, cry out, yell

Opposites: whisper

Common phrases: call out names, call out loudly, call something out

To ask or order someone to come and deal with a problem or emergency.

• We had to call out a plumber.
• The governor called out troops after the floods.
• They called the doctor out in the middle of the night.

How to use it: call out someone to do something (We called out a plumber to fix the leak.)

Similar words: summon, send for, mobilize

Opposites: stand down

Common phrases: call out someone, call out troops, call someone out

To openly criticize someone or point out something wrong they have done.

• She called out his rude behaviour.
• He called the company out for misleading customers.
• Why didn't anyone call her out on that lie?

How to use it: call someone out on/for something (She called him out for lying.); call out something (We should call out unfair treatment.)

Similar words: criticize, denounce, challenge

Opposites: praise

Common phrases: call out racism, call out someone, call someone out

To state exactly what is required, especially in a technical drawing or document.

• The drawing calls out stainless steel.
• They called out every dimension in the design.
• Does the specification call out a particular paint?

How to use it: call out something in something (The engineer called out the required thickness in the drawing.)

Similar words: specify, detail, state

Common phrases: call out dimensions, call out materials

To contact your workplace and say that you cannot come to work.

• I need to call out sick.
• She called out because her child was ill.
• Three workers have called out this morning.

How to use it: call out sick (Two members of staff called out sick today.)

Similar words: call in sick

Common phrases: call out sick, call out today

To challenge someone to fight you, sometimes in a formal fight with weapons.

• He called his rival out.
• The officer called him out after the public insult.
• Would you call someone out over a card game?

How to use it: call someone out (After the insult, he called his rival out.)

Similar words: challenge to a fight, challenge to a duel

Common phrases: call out someone, call someone out