What does on call mean?

Definition

Ready to go out at any moment if there is an emergency.

Example sentences

• My uncle's a volunteer firefighter — on the nights he's on call, he sleeps with his boots by the bed in case the fire truck has to go out.🔊

  My uncle's a volunteer firefighter — on the nights he's on call, he sleeps with his boots by the bed in case the fire truck has to go out.

• We got lucky — the clinic in that tiny village was well-equipped and had a doctor on call, even on a Sunday night.🔊

  We got lucky — the clinic in that tiny village was well-equipped and had a doctor on call, even on a Sunday night.

on call in other languages

• In Portuguese
• In French
• In Japanese