called on

phrase

variants or called upon
past tense of call on
1
as in relied
to place reliance or trust She's the one I call on when I need a friend.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in asked
to make a request of She called on me for a ride to the airport.

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
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.

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 During the 2025 Operation Midnight Hammer strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, an Ohio-class boat was called upon to augment B-2 bomber strikes. — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026 Mark Ruffalo called upon state attorneys general to block the merger. — Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026 He was called upon three times for emergency services during the World Cup. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 31 July 2026 When Kimmel hesitated when guessing Spaghetti & Meatball, Affleck and Ding called upon Ding’s trivia partner Stephen Morrison, who opted not to answer. — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 30 July 2026 For her Odyssey press tour, Zendaya called upon Schiaparelli couture to channel the archetypes of Greek mythology at the London premiere of the show. — Shelby Comroe, InStyle, 25 July 2026 There are once again questions about Mims’ role given the addition of similarly speedy wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, but he will undoubtedly be called upon at key spots during the season. — Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 22 July 2026 Milton had a shaky first preseason with the Cowboys after being acquired in a trade last offseason, and he wasn’t called upon to play meaningful snaps in the regular season. — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 July 2026 My yard would feed the entire neighborhood, if called upon to do so. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2026

Browse Nearby Words

called (off or out)
called on
called (on or upon)
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Cite this Entry

“Called on.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/called%20on. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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