call for

phrasal verb transitive

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	call for
he/she/it	calls for
present participle	calling for
past tense	called for
past participle	called for

1
(call for something) to say publicly that something must happen
Several of the newspapers were calling for his resignation.
Protesters were calling for a ban on the production of GM foods.
Synonyms and related words
Judgments, verdicts and official orders
acquit
acquittal
affiliation order
Collocates
Nouns frequently used as objects of call for
▪ ban, boycott, change, end, halt, reform, removal, resignation, review, shake-up
2
(call for something) to make something necessary or appropriate
not called for (=unpleasant or unfair):
I really don’t think that remark was called for!
The present crisis calls for mature judgment on the part of our leaders.
Skill and initiative are called for in this job.
Synonyms and related words
To be important, or to give something importance
matter
figure
emphasize
See alsouncalled for
Collocates
Nouns frequently used as objects of call for
▪ ability, imagination, ingenuity, initiative, judgment, knowledge, skill
3
(call for someone/something) to go somewhere and get someone or something in order to take them to another place
I’ll call for you at eight.
Has he called for his package yet?
Synonyms and related words
To go somewhere and get something or someone
get
pick up
call for
4
(call for something) Americanto say that something, especially a particular kind of weather, will probably happen
For this afternoon the forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with only widely scattered showers.
Synonyms and related words
To be certain or likely to happen
await
threaten
call for