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Definitions

on call

ADJECTIVE
ready to work
Synonyms
WEAK
accessible at hand at one's beck and call at one's disposal at one's fingertip available handy night call on alert on deck on-the-spot prepared standing by within reach

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

U.S. companies spent an estimated $23.5 billion on call and contact center outsourcing in 2025, according to market research firm Precedence Research.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Perry Lang cooked for Epstein from around 1998 to 2002, during which time he was “basically on call 24/7,” according to a 2021 FBI interview with Lang included in the files.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026

New rules will mean reservists remain on call for an extra decade, and lower the threshold for them being called into service.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2026

The couple was on call for a small but fast-growing rodent who hissed when annoyed and cried when lonely:

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 7, 2025

“Tim and I are doing well. He sends his love. He really wanted to be here, but he’s on call tonight and had to go in.”

From "Piecing Me Together" by Renée Watson