answer the call

verb

To voluntarily perform a task or set of tasks with which one is confronted, especially when motivated by a sense of responsibility or duty.

Meanings

verbanswer the call (third-person singular simple present answers the call, present participle answering the call, simple past and past participle answered the call)

present singular third person answers the call · participle present answering the call · participle past answered the call · past answered the call

  1. To voluntarily perform a task or set of tasks with which one is confronted, especially when motivated by a sense of responsibility or duty.

    And we need leaders with transformative vision to show us the way. The question is: Who will answer the call?

    2011 April 11, Kyle Whitaker, “Transform your business and take the lead on sustainability”, in Guardian, UK, retrieved 29 Oct 2020
    2 more examples

    The fathers you knew had served in World War II, and probably thought their sons should answer the call, too.

    2014 January 5, Richard Pérez-Peña, “I May Be 50, but Don’t Call Me a Boomer”, in New York Times, retrieved 29 Oct 2020

    Neil Lennon declared "Celtic comes first" after answering the call following Brendan Rodgers' sudden departure. […] "[T]here is a chasm to fill with Brendan leaving, who has done a remarkable job. But I'm here for the club."

    2019 February 27, Gavin McCafferty, “Neil Lennon delivers rallying cry to Celtic after taking over as manager”, in Independent, UK, retrieved 29 Oct 2020
Cite this entry
APA

answer the call. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/answer%20the%20call

MLA

“answer the call.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/answer%20the%20call. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “answer the call,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/answer%20the%20call.

Source: answer the call on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.