Definition

1. Verb (transitive):

   • To request or order the return of something: To officially ask for something, especially a product, to be sent back, often because of a problem or defect.
   • To demand the repayment of a loan or debt: To formally require that borrowed money be paid back.
   • To summon someone for assistance or consultation: To ask for a person, especially an expert, to come to a place to help or give advice.
   • To ask someone to enter: To request that a person who is waiting should come into a room or area.

2. Verb (intransitive):

   • To make a telephone call to a place, especially to one's workplace or a broadcast station: To contact by phone, typically to report something or participate.

Usage Examples

• Verb (transitive - request return):
  • The company had to call in all the faulty chargers due to a safety risk.
  • The manufacturer issued a notice to call in the affected vehicles.
• Verb (transitive - demand repayment):
  • The bank can call in the loan if you miss three payments.
• Verb (transitive - summon for help):
  • When the pipe burst, we had to call in a plumber immediately.
  • The police called in a forensic specialist to examine the scene.
• Verb (transitive - ask to enter):
  • "The doctor will call you in shortly," said the receptionist.
• Verb (intransitive - make a phone call):
  • Listeners are encouraged to call in with their questions.
  • She had to call in sick because she had a high fever.

Advanced Usage

• "to call in a favor": To ask someone to repay a past kindness or help.
  • I had to call in a favor from an old friend to get the tickets.
• "to call in an airstrike/military support" (specialized): To request military assistance, typically via radio.
  • The unit was surrounded and had to call in air support.

Variants and Related Words

• Call-in (noun/adjective): Describing a radio or TV program that accepts telephone calls from the audience.
  • He hosts a popular call-in show about gardening.
• Recall (verb): A close synonym for "call in" when meaning to request the return of a product.

Synonyms

• Summon: To authoritatively call for someone to come (e.g., ).
• Withdraw: To remove something from circulation or use (e.g., ).
• Phone in: To make a telephone call to a place, very similar to the intransitive use.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Call back: To return a phone call; also similar to "call in" meaning to request a return.
  • I'll call back later. / They called back the latest model.
• Call on: To visit someone briefly.
  • We called on our neighbors yesterday.
• Call up: To summon for military service; to telephone someone.
  • He was called up for duty. / I'll call you up tonight.

Verb

1. cause to be returned
   • recall the defective auto tires
   • The manufacturer tried to call back the spoilt yoghurt
2. demand payment of (a loan)
   • Call a loan
3. make a phone call
   • call in to a radio station
   • call in sick
4. take a player out of a game in order to exchange for another player
5. pay a brief visit
   • The mayor likes to call on some of the prominent citizens
6. summon to a particular activity or employment
   • Experts were called in
7. summon to enter
   • The nurse called in the next patient