took a call

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "took a call" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to indicate that someone answered a phone call. You can use it in any situation where someone has answered a phone call, for example: - I was in the middle of a meeting when I had to excuse myself to take a call from my boss. - She took a call from her friend in the middle of dinner. - The receptionist took a call from a potential client and transferred it to the sales team. - Despite being on vacation, he still took a call from his colleague to help with a project.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Kroll took a call.

The New Yorker

Then he took a call.

The New York Times

I took a call.

The Washington Post

He took a call from President Obama.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Raab took a call.

The New York Times

— took a call a from the Pan-Atlantic Steamship Corporation.

The New York Times

Senator Warner took a call from a Russian.

The Washington Post

One afternoon, I took a call from my doctor.

The Guardian - Sport

During questions he took a call on his mobile.

The Guardian

She took a call about an upcoming project with Beyoncé.

The New Yorker

During the drive, Kelly took a call from Olivia Bosch.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "took a call" to simply state that someone answered a phone call, without implying anything about the nature or importance of the call itself.

Common error

Avoid using "took a call" if you want to emphasize the importance or urgency of the call. Phrases like "had to take an urgent call" or "interrupted the meeting for an important call" are better suited to convey urgency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "took a call" functions as a verb phrase indicating the action of answering or receiving a phone call. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage. As evidenced by the examples, it often interrupts another activity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "took a call" is a common and grammatically sound way to express that someone answered a phone call. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and the provided examples showcase its frequent use across various news and media outlets. While neutral in register, it is important to consider context when choosing this phrase over alternatives like "answered a call" or "received a call", especially if you need to emphasize the urgency or importance of the phone call. Remember to avoid using it when you intend to highlight the act of initiating a phone call (use "made a call" instead).

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

answered a call

Focuses on the action of answering, emphasizing the response to the incoming call.

received a call

Highlights the reception of the call, emphasizing that the call was received.

got a call

A more informal way of saying "received a call".

spoke on the phone

Shifts the focus to the conversation that occurred during the call.

had a phone conversation

More formal and explicitly mentions the phone conversation.

responded to a phone call

Highlights the act of responding to a phone call, emphasizing the reaction.

picked up the phone

Focuses on the physical action of answering the phone.

returned a call

Indicates that the person called back after missing an initial call.

was on the phone

Emphasizes the state of being engaged in a phone conversation.

dealt with a phone call

Suggests handling or managing the phone call, possibly implying a problem or task.

FAQs

What does it mean to say someone "took a call"?

Saying someone "took a call" means they answered a phone call, often implying they paused what they were doing to do so.

What are some alternatives to saying "took a call"?

Alternatives include "answered a call", "received a call", or "got a call", depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say someone "took a call"?

Yes, "took a call" is grammatically correct and commonly used in English.

How is "took a call" different from "made a call"?

"Took a call" means to answer an incoming call, while "made a call" means to initiate an outgoing call.