call up

To choose a player to join a team, especially a national or higher-level team.

• The coach called up two players.
• He was called up to the national squad last month.
• Who will they call up to replace the injured goalkeeper?

How to use it: call someone up to a team (The coach called her up to the national team.)

Similar words: select, pick

Opposites: drop

Common phrases: call up someone, call up a player

To bring stored information onto a screen or bring a memory into your mind.

• Call up the customer record.
• The song called up memories of our first holiday.
• He called the old photographs up on his screen.

How to use it: call something up (She called the document up on her laptop.)

Similar words: retrieve, recall, bring up

Common phrases: call up something, call up a file

To order someone to join or return to the armed forces.

• They called up more soldiers.
• My grandfather was called up during the war.
• Will the army call up reservists this year?

How to use it: be called up for something (He was called up for military service at nineteen.)

Similar words: conscript, draft, mobilize

Opposites: discharge

Common phrases: call up reservists, call up someone

To contact someone by telephone.

• Call up your friend.
• She called me up last night.
• Why did you call up the office so early?

How to use it: call someone up (I called my sister up to ask about dinner.)

Similar words: call, phone, ring

Common phrases: call up someone, call up a friend