calling

noun

call·​ing ˈkȯ-liŋ How to pronounce calling (audio)
Synonyms of calling
1
: a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence
2
: the vocation or profession in which one customarily engages
3
: the characteristic cry of a female cat in heat
also : the period of heat

Synonyms of calling

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work, employment, occupation, calling, pursuit, métier, business mean a specific sustained activity engaged in especially in earning one's living.

work may apply to any purposeful activity whether remunerative or not.

her work as a hospital volunteer

employment implies work for which one has been engaged and is being paid by an employer.

your employment with this firm is hereby terminated

occupation implies work in which one engages regularly especially as a result of training.

his occupation as a trained auto mechanic

calling applies to an occupation viewed as a vocation or profession.

the ministry seemed my true calling

pursuit suggests a trade, profession, or avocation followed with zeal or steady interest.

her family considered medicine the only proper pursuit

métier implies a calling or pursuit for which one believes oneself to be especially fitted.

acting was my one and only métier

business suggests activity in commerce or the management of money and affairs.

the business of managing a hotel

Examples of calling in a Sentence

He had always felt a calling to help others. He experienced a calling to enter the priesthood.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
The original film follows a young boy named Miguel who feels a calling to music against his family’s wishes. — Matt Minton, Variety, 15 Aug. 2026 Instead, most feel that calling is now most frequently done at night. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 12 Aug. 2026 But their approach has also spawned backlash to the backlash, with some calling on McCarty to put a stop to the disruptions. — Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Bartels and Howe pitched the movie as a love letter focusing on a single summer about a kid who stumbles into a restaurant and finds his calling. — Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for calling

Word History

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of calling was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing calling

Rhymes for calling

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Browse Nearby Words

Callinectes
calling
calling card
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Cite this Entry

“Calling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calling. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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calling

noun
call·​ing ˈkȯ-liŋ How to pronounce calling (audio)
: the characteristic cry of a female cat in heat
also : the period of heat

More from Merriam-Webster on calling

Nglish: Translation of calling for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about calling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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