call back

Meaning

To return a phone call to someone who tried to contact you earlier, or to call someone a second time. It is a very common phrasal verb in both professional and personal phone calls.

Examples

• I'm in a meeting right now, can I call you back in an hour?

  I'm in a meeting right now, can I call you back in an hour?

• She promised to call back as soon as she got the test results.

  She promised to call back as soon as she got the test results.

• If the line is busy, I will try to call back later this afternoon.

  If the line is busy, I will try to call back later this afternoon.

• He didn't answer, so I left a voicemail asking him to call me back.

  He didn't answer, so I left a voicemail asking him to call me back.

• Thanks for calling back so quickly; I have an urgent question for you.

  Thanks for calling back so quickly; I have an urgent question for you.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I will call back you later.

  ✓ I will call you back later.

  'Call back' is a separable phrasal verb. When using a pronoun like 'you', 'me', or 'him', it must go in the middle of the verb and particle.

• ✗ Please return my call back.

  ✓ Please call me back.

  'Return my call' and 'call me back' mean the same thing. Combining them is redundant and incorrect.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Mr. Davis is not at his desk. Would you like him to ___ you ___?

  💡 To return your phone call (use the phrasal verb).

  Show answer

  call back

• I missed a call from an unknown number, so I decided to ___.

  💡 Return the phone call.

  Show answer

  call back