1 A2 neutral
To telephone your workplace or an organisation, typically to report your absence or communicate information.
"She called in sick on Monday after spending the whole weekend in bed with flu."
inseparable
call in
B1 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To phone a workplace, radio station, or organisation; to summon someone for help; or to visit briefly.
In plain English
Phone a place (like your work or a radio show) to say something, or ask for someone to come and help.
What does "call in" mean?
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To summon a professional, expert, or outside help to deal with a problem.
"After three days without progress, the company called in a specialist consultant."
separable
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
To demand the repayment of a loan or the fulfilment of a favour or obligation.
"The bank called in the loan after the company missed three consecutive payments."
separable
4 B1 neutral
To stop briefly at a place while passing; to visit for a short time. (Mainly British English.)
"I'll call in at the pharmacy on my way home and pick up your prescription."
inseparable
Usage tip
Has several distinct senses. Calling in sick is extremely common. Calling in a professional means summoning expert help. Calling in a favour means asking someone to fulfil a debt. All senses are common in everyday English.
Words that pair with "call in"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
sick favour expert loan reinforcements tip
How to conjugate "call in"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
call in
I/you/we/they
3rd person
calls in
he/she/it
Past simple
called in
yesterday
Past participle
called in
have + pp
-ing form
calling in
continuous
Hear "call in" in the wild
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Other ways to say "call in"
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Keep exploring
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