called off

USAGE SUMMARY

'called off' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to something that has been canceled, usually due to certain circumstances. For example, "The meeting was called off due to poor weather."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Furloughs were called off.

The New York Times

The game was called off.

The New York Times

Wednesday's classes were called off.

The New York Times

The match was called off.

The New York Times

"83!" Bobby called off.

The New York Times - Arts

If I get called off, I get called off.

The New York Times

Both operations were abruptly called off.

The New Yorker

"I called off Javy," Cervelli said.

The New York Times - Sports

Some groups have called off ceasefires.

The Economist

The artist called off the birthday outing.

The New York Times

The session was called off.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "called off" to clearly indicate the cancellation of an event or agreement. Ensure the context is clear about who or what is doing the canceling.

Common error

Avoid using "called off" when you mean to say the event is simply postponed. "Called off" implies a complete cancellation, not a delay.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "called off" functions as a phrasal verb, specifically the past tense or past participle form of 'call off'. It's used to express the cancellation or abandonment of a planned event or action, as demonstrated in Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

General

20%

Sports

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Wiki

3%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "called off" is a phrasal verb indicating the cancellation of an event or activity. As Ludwig AI shows, it is grammatically correct and very common in contexts like news, general conversation, and sports reporting. While it maintains a neutral register, ensure its use is appropriate, avoiding it when the event is merely postponed. Alternatives include "canceled", "abandoned", and "terminated", each carrying slightly different connotations. For clear and effective communication, use "called off" when complete cancellation is intended.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

canceled

Indicates that an event or arrangement has been terminated.

abandoned

Implies a more definitive and often unexpected cessation.

terminated

Formal term indicating a definite end.

aborted

Indicates the premature ending of an action or plan.

postponed

Suggests that an event is delayed and will happen at a later time, unlike "called off" which implies cancellation.

scrapped

Suggests that something was discarded or abandoned, often due to being unfeasible.

rescinded

Formally revoked or canceled.

suspended

Implies a temporary stop, with the possibility of resumption.

nullified

Indicates that an agreement or action has been made void.

discontinued

Suggests cessation of something that was ongoing.

FAQs

How do I use "called off" in a sentence?

Use "called off" to indicate that an event or activity has been canceled. For example, "The meeting was "called off" due to unforeseen circumstances."

What's the difference between "called off" and "postponed"?

"Called off" means canceled completely, while "postponed" means delayed to a later time. If the event will happen later, use "postponed" instead.

What can I say instead of "called off"?

You can use alternatives such as "canceled", "abandoned", or "terminated", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "call off of" instead of "called off"?

No, the correct phrase is "called off". "Call off of" is grammatically incorrect.