Call for meaning
Call for means to say publicly that something must happen. It can also mean to need a particular action or quality.
call for something
call for · called · calling
Students are calling for lower bus fares.
Call for meanings and examples
3 meanings, each with its own CEFR level. A level marked ~ is our estimate: Oxford and Cambridge give none for that meaning.
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1
Say publicly that something must happen
call for something
- Students are calling for lower bus fares.
- Doctors have called for a ban on energy drinks for kids.
- Nobody called for his resignation after the mistake.
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2
Need a particular action or quality
call for something
- You passed your driving test? This calls for cake!
- The job calls for a lot of patience.
- Does this recipe call for fresh or dried basil?
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3
Come to someone’s home to collect them before going somewhere
call for somebody
- I’ll call for you at seven, so be ready.
- Lisa called for me on her way to school.
- Shall we call for Ben, or will he meet us there?
Café orders
New friends
At the airport
Slova
Use call for in real conversations
- Learn new words with picture cards
- Talk with Felix, an AI tutor, about the things you love
- Short lessons at your level, a few minutes a day
Is call for separable?
Call for is not separable. The thing that is needed comes after for: call for change, call for it. Never call change for.
The collect someone meaning is mainly UK. In US English people say pick someone up. In recipes, call for means the recipe needs that ingredient.
Verb tenses for call for
| Present | I call for · she calls for |
|---|---|
| Past | called for |
| Present perfect | have called for |
| -ing form | calling for |
Common mistakes with call for
What learners often say, and what to say instead.
Wrong: Protesters called the minister for to resign.
Right: Protesters called for the minister to resign.
Call for is not separable; put the person after for.
Wrong: They are calling for to stop the war.
Right: They are calling for an end to the war.
After call for, use a noun, not to + verb.
Wrong: This situation calls for that we act now.
Right: This situation calls for action now.
Call for needs a noun, not a that clause.
Synonyms and opposites of call for
Words close to it, and words that mean the opposite.
Similar
- call onask a person to act; call for asks for a thing
- demandask very strongly, often without the polite tone
- requirethe formal word for need
Opposite
- rejectsay no to an idea or demand
- opposespeak against something
Call for quiz
Three quick questions. Pick an answer to see if it is right and why.
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1Climate groups are ___ cleaner public transport.
You call for a thing; you call on a person.
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2Choose the right sentence.
Use a noun straight after call for.
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3“The recipe calls for three eggs.” What does it mean?
In a recipe, call for means need.
More phrasal verbs with call
5 phrasal verbs start with call. Test yourself on all of them in a few minutes.
Call for FAQ
Questions people ask about call for.
What does this calls for a celebration mean?
It means the news is so good that we should celebrate. People say it after a new job, a win or a birthday.
What is the difference between call for and call on?
Call for + thing: They called for new laws. Call on + person + to: They called on leaders to act.
Is call for formal?
The demand meaning is common in news and sounds a bit formal. The need meaning is neutral, and the collect meaning is everyday UK English.
Use call for in real conversations
In Slova you learn new words with picture cards, then use them when you talk about the things you love. A few minutes a day, at your level.