call-up
B2Formal, administrative, journalistic, sporting
Definition
Meaning
An official order to report for military service; the process of summoning individuals to serve.
The act of summoning someone for a specific purpose, such as to play for a sports team, to attend an interview, or for a duty or task. Can also refer to the list of people summoned.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun. In sporting contexts, it has positive connotations (achievement). In military/legal contexts, it is neutral/formal and implies obligation. The hyphen is often retained in British English but may be omitted ('callup') or written solid ('callup') in some contexts, especially American English.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'call-up' is strongly associated with historical/conscripted military service (National Service). In American English, 'the draft' is the more common term for compulsory military summons, making 'call-up' somewhat less frequent for that sense. Both use it commonly in sports.
Connotations
UK: Strong historical link to conscription. US: More neutral administrative or sporting term.
Frequency
More frequent in UK English due to lingering historical reference. In US, 'draft notice' is more specific for military; 'call-up' is common in sports journalism.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
receive + a + call-up + (to + ORG)be + given + a + call-up + (for + TEAM)get + a + call-up + (from + AUTHORITY)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Answer the call-up (respond to a summons)”
- “A call-up to arms (a summons to fight)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Possibly in HR for summoning reserved employees or for large-scale training.
Academic
Used in historical/political studies discussing conscription.
Everyday
Mostly in news about sports or historical reminiscence.
Technical
Military and sports administration terminology.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The army may call up reservists in a crisis.
- The manager decided to call up the young striker from the academy.
American English
- The government has the authority to call up citizens in an emergency.
- The team will call up a pitcher from their minor league affiliate.
adjective
British English
- He received his call-up papers in the post.
- The call-up list was posted on the noticeboard.
American English
- He awaited his call-up notice with anxiety.
- The call-up roster included several new faces.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He was happy to get a call-up for the school football team.
- During the war, many young men received a military call-up.
- Her first call-up to the national squad was a dream come true.
- The surprise call-up of the uncapped player dominated the sports headlines.
- His call-up papers arrived just as he was starting university, disrupting his plans.
- The government's decision to issue a call-up for specialist engineers was met with mixed reactions from industry.
- Despite his consistent club form, an international call-up continued to elude him.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a phone CALL ringing UP a soldier or athlete: it's their CALL-UP to duty.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SUMMONS IS A COMMAND (authoritative pull from above).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить как "звонок вверх". Для военного призыва: "призыв" (conscription). Для спортивного: "вызов в сборную".
- Не смешивать с фразовым глаголом 'call up' (позвонить). Здесь это составное существительное.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'call-up' to mean a telephone call. (Incorrect: 'I got a call-up from my mum.')
- Misspelling as 'callup' or 'call up' in contexts where the hyphenated form is standard.
- Confusing with 'call out' (which implies a challenge or a request for service).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'call-up' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The standard dictionary form is hyphenated: 'call-up'. However, in informal use, especially in sports journalism, you might see 'call up' (two words) used as a noun. The hyphenated form is safest.
In American English, 'the draft' is the system or process of compulsory military service, while a 'call-up' (or draft notice) is the official document/order an individual receives. In British English, 'call-up' can refer to both the system and the individual order.
Yes, the related phrasal verb is 'to call up' (e.g., 'to call up a player'). The noun 'call-up' is derived from this verb phrase.
No. While it implies authority and obligation in military contexts, in sports it is a positive achievement and an honour, though still an official summons.