# call round

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/call-round
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

to visit someone at their home for a short time, usually without a formal invitation.

For teachers: to pay a brief, informal visit to a person's residence; typically used in British English to denote a casual social call.

## Examples

- I'll call round later this evening to see how you are.
- Since he lives just down the street, he often calls round for a quick cup of tea.
- The local vicar would occasionally call round to check on the elderly residents, ensuring they had enough supplies for the winter months.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I called round him yesterday." but "I called round to see him yesterday." — this phrasal verb is intransitive regarding the person; you call round (to a place) rather than 'calling round' a person directly.

## Usage notes

- common in British English; often used with 'to' or 'for' to indicate the purpose of the visit.
- Teaching tip: contrast with 'call back' (return a phone call) and 'call on' (a more formal visit); note that 'call round' is synonymous with 'drop by' or 'swing by' in American English.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.