# call up

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/call-up
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to telephone someone. You use this when you want to talk to a person using your phone.

For teachers: To contact a person by telephone. The verb is transitive and optionally separable, though the object must be placed between the verb and particle if it is a pronoun.

## Examples

- I will call up my brother later tonight.
- If you have any questions about the contract, just call up the office and ask for Sarah.
- The executive decided to call up the lead investigator to ensure that the sensitive data had been handled according to the new security protocols.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I called up to him yesterday." but "I called him up yesterday." — The preposition 'to' is not used when 'call up' means to telephone someone; 'call up to' usually means shouting to someone on a higher floor.

## Usage notes

- If you use a pronoun like 'him' or 'her', it must go between 'call' and 'up'.
- Teaching tip: Mention that 'call up' is more common in American English, while British speakers often prefer 'ring up' or simply 'phone'.

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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.