# calling

/ˈkɔɫɪŋ/ (US) · /kˈɔːlɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. a life's purpose

noun · CEFR B2

a strong feeling that you must do a specific job or help people in a certain way.

For teachers: a strong inner urge or conviction to follow a particular career or way of life, often perceived as a duty or a spiritual mission.

- She felt a calling to become a doctor after seeing how much her community needed help.
- Many nurses describe their entry into the profession not as a mere career choice, but as a calling that demands significant personal sacrifice.

### 2. a job or profession

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the work or job that you do for a living.

For teachers: a person's regular occupation, profession, or trade.

- He followed his father's calling and became a carpenter.
- In the nineteenth century, it was common for sons to adopt the calling of their fathers, regardless of their own personal interests or talents.

### 3. the act of shouting or naming

noun · CEFR A2

the act of shouting out a name or making a phone call.

For teachers: the action of shouting, summoning, or communicating by telephone.

- The calling of names at the start of class took several minutes.
- The constant calling of birds in the forest made it difficult for the researchers to record the subtle sounds of the smaller mammals.

## Examples

- She felt a calling to become a doctor.
- After years of working in finance, he realized his true calling was teaching children in his local community.
- While many view medicine as a mere profession, those who treat it as a calling often demonstrate a level of resilience that prevents burnout during the most demanding shifts.

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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.