# called

/ˈkɔɫd/ (US) · /kˈɔːld/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/called
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. having a specific name

verb · CEFR A1

to have a particular name.

For teachers: used to specify the name or title of a person, place, or thing.

- I have a cat called Luna who sleeps on my bed every night.
- The small village, called Oakhaven by the locals, does not appear on most maps printed before the nineteenth century.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice (be + called) to introduce a name.

### 2. telephoned or shouted

verb · CEFR A1

the past tense of calling someone by phone or by shouting their name.

For teachers: the past tense of 'call', indicating a completed action of telephoning or vocal summoning.

- She called me yesterday to talk about our holiday plans.
- The manager called the meeting to order after the final board member arrived and took their seat.

### 3. summoned or chosen

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal · Literary

describing someone who has been asked to come or chosen for a special task.

For teachers: describing a person who has been summoned or feels a divine or professional vocation.

- He felt called to help people and decided to become a doctor.
- In many traditional narratives, the hero is a called individual who must leave their home to fulfill a destiny they did not choose.

## Examples

- The cat is called Luna.
- The small village where I grew up is called Oakwood, and it is famous for its ancient trees.
- In academic circles, this specific phenomenon is called the observer effect, referring to how the act of measurement can change the system being studied.

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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.