close call

noun

: a narrow escape

Examples of close call in a Sentence

We nearly didn't get out of the burning building. It was a pretty close call, let me tell you! the doctor said I'd had a close call, and was lucky to be alive
Recent Examples on the Web Polls ahead of Sunday had suggested that passing the measure that boosts pensions by about 8% would be a close call. Bastian Benrath, Fortune Europe, 3 Mar. 2024 According to the Associated Press, the nation’s top accident investigator, Jennifer Homendy told a Senate panel in November that multiple close calls between aircraft at U.S. airports in 2023 are largely the result of staffing shortages since the pandemic. Peter Georgescu, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 San Francisco’s close call against the Green Bay Packers was a reminder that no favorite is invincible. Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 26 Jan. 2024 With so many close calls being reported, at some point one or two mistakes will result in the loss of life. Peter Georgescu, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Although no one has been killed at a Boring Company worksite in Las Vegas, the OSHA report shows some very close calls. Andy Kalmowitz / Jalopnik, Quartz, 26 Feb. 2024 Cruise, the driverless car company owned by General Motors, is back in the spotlight after another close call with a pedestrian. Bigad Shaban, NBC News, 14 Feb. 2024 But that was the Crusaders’ one close call in a remarkable league season. Nathan Canilao, The Mercury News, 14 Feb. 2024 Is the Fed going to lower interest rates in 2024? Markets that predict movements in the federal funds rate think a March cut is a close call, reckoning there’s about a 46% chance of such a move. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 29 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'close call.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of close call was in 1881

Dictionary Entries Near close call

Cite this Entry

“Close call.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/close%20call. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

close call

noun
: a narrow escape
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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