1 B1 neutral
To summon someone away from their current activity because they are needed elsewhere.
"I'm sorry the meeting was so short — the director was called away by a family emergency."
separable
call away
B1 neutral separable transitive
To require or summon someone to leave what they are doing and go to another place or task.
In plain English
Make someone stop what they are doing and go somewhere else because they are needed.
What does "call away" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To call someone away from their current position.
Actually means
Make someone stop what they are doing and go somewhere else because they are needed.
Usage tip
Often used in passive constructions: 'She was called away on urgent business.' Common in professional or formal contexts. Implies the person had no real choice.
Words that pair with "call away"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
business emergency meeting duty crisis appointment
How to conjugate "call away"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
call away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
calls away
he/she/it
Past simple
called away
yesterday
Past participle
called away
have + pp
-ing form
calling away
continuous
Hear "call away" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "call away" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "call away"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
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