call for
2 meanings
publicly ask for or demand something
What does "call for" mean in this sense?
Examples
- The opposition called for the prime minister's resignation after the scandal broke.
- Protesters have been calling for an end to the new legislation for weeks.
- Several international leaders are calling for an immediate ceasefire in the region.
How to use it
The most common pattern: a person, group, or institution demands an action or outcome, named as a noun phrase after 'for'.
The trade union called for an independent review of working conditions.
Use this extended pattern when the demand is for something to stop, particularly a policy, practice, or conflict.
Campaigners have been calling for an end to single-use plastic packaging for several years.
Use this pattern when the demand concerns a specific outcome involving a named person or thing, such as someone's release or removal.
Human rights groups called for the immediate release of the detained journalists.
When used after verbs like 'continue' or 'begin', the infinitive form connects naturally without changing the meaning.
Several opposition MPs have continued to call for a full public inquiry.
The present continuous emphasises that the demand is ongoing — useful when reporting current events or live situations.
Environmental activists are calling for stricter emissions regulations ahead of the summit.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
With 'call for', the object is the thing being demanded. With 'call on', the object is the person you want to act, followed by a to-infinitive. Mixing these up produces unnatural sentences.
'Call for' implies a public or formal demand and sounds unnatural in everyday personal situations. Use 'ask for' or 'request' when making a personal request.
When the subject is a situation or thing (not a person or group), 'call for' means 'require', which is a different sense entirely. Be sure your subject is a human actor making a demand, not an abstract situation.
Usage
This phrasal verb is most common in formal and journalistic English, especially in political news. It is not typically used in casual conversation — in everyday situations, 'ask for' or 'demand' would sound more natural.
need or demand a particular action or quality
Sense 2: What does "call for sth" mean?
Examples
- This situation calls for a calm and measured response.
- The job called for a high level of technical expertise.
- I think finishing the project on time calls for a celebration!
How to use it
The most common pattern: an impersonal subject such as a situation, challenge, or occasion requires a particular quality or course of action.
Dealing with a difficult client calls for a great deal of patience.
Used to assess what a specific present circumstance demands, often in commentary or analysis.
The scale of the problem calls for a completely different approach.
The object can refer to a concrete action or set of measures, not just an abstract quality.
The unexpected results call for immediate action from the research team.
Used after modal verbs when assessing what might be needed in a hypothetical or future situation.
A crisis like this might call for drastic measures we haven't considered yet.
Used when a particular outcome or event naturally warrants a specific reaction.
Landing your first major contract is exactly the kind of thing that calls for a celebration.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
When a person or group is the subject, 'call for' shifts to a different meaning — publicly demanding or campaigning for something. In the 'require' sense, the subject must be an impersonal noun like a situation, task, or occasion, not a person acting with intent.
Because 'call for' in this sense describes an inherent requirement rather than an ongoing action, the present continuous sounds very unnatural. Use the simple present instead.
Because the subject of 'call for' is a situation or circumstance — not a person acting on an object — the passive form does not work naturally for this sense. Rephrase with an active construction instead.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral in register and works in both spoken and written English, but it sounds slightly more formal or considered than simply saying 'need' or 'require'. The subject is nearly always a situation, event, or task — not a person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'call for' be used in the passive, like 'an inquiry was called for'?
This pattern is not naturally available for this sense because the thing demanded is the object of 'for', not a direct object of 'call'. You may occasionally see 'be called for' in English, but it belongs to a different sense meaning 'be required or appropriate'. For this sense, it is safest to keep the structure active: 'The committee called for an inquiry.'
Is 'call for' used in British English, American English, or both?
In this political and journalistic sense, 'call for' is used in both British and American English without any significant difference in meaning or frequency. It appears regularly in newspapers and broadcast media on both sides of the Atlantic.
What kinds of things can follow 'call for' as the object?
The object is almost always an abstract noun or noun phrase representing an action or change — words like resignation, reform, an inquiry, a ceasefire, transparency, or an investigation. Concrete physical objects are not typical here; if someone is collecting a person or item, that is a completely different sense of 'call for' used in British English conversation.
Can I use 'call for' in formal writing, such as an essay or report?
Yes — 'call for' is well suited to formal written English and is especially common in journalism, political commentary, and academic writing about public affairs. It would fit naturally in an essay discussing political events or social movements.
Does 'call for' always refer to something the speaker personally wants?
Not necessarily. In news reporting, writers often use 'call for' neutrally to describe someone else's demand without implying they agree with it: 'The opposition called for early elections.' The phrasal verb describes the act of making a public demand, regardless of whether the writer or speaker supports it.
Can 'call for' be used with a person as the subject?
In this 'require' sense, no — the subject is almost always a situation, task, event, or occasion, not a person. If you put a person as the subject, it shifts to a different meaning where someone publicly demands or campaigns for something, which is a separate sense entirely.
What kinds of objects can follow 'call for' in this meaning?
The object is typically an abstract noun representing a quality, skill, or course of action — things like patience, creativity, expertise, or immediate action. You can also use noun phrases like 'a different approach', 'careful consideration', or 'a celebration'. The object should never be a person.
Is 'call for' stronger than just saying 'need' or 'require'?
It's slightly more emphatic. 'Call for' often implies that the requirement is significant or non-trivial — that the situation genuinely demands something special. It's also a touch more formal in feel than 'need', though it works perfectly well in everyday educated speech.
Does 'call for' have other meanings I should know about?
Yes — the same form has at least two other common meanings. One involves a person or group publicly demanding something (like reform or an inquiry), and another (mainly British English) means going somewhere to collect someone. Context usually makes it clear which sense is meant, and a separate section on this page covers those other uses.
Can I use 'call for' to talk about the past?
Yes, the simple past works naturally: 'The crisis called for bold leadership.' The past perfect also works in narrative contexts: 'It had called for more effort than anyone expected.' Just avoid the continuous forms in this sense — 'was calling for' sounds unnatural here.
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