The phrasal verb 'call at' is typically used in more formal contexts, particularly within maritime or travel-related scenarios. It is frequently employed to describe a ship or train making a scheduled stop at a particular port or station, such as 'The ship will call at several ports during its journey.' While it is not generally used in everyday conversation, it holds its niche in transportation and logistics discourse. Additionally, in certain formal communications, 'call at' may be used metaphorically to mean visiting a place briefly or paying a polite visit, though this usage has become less common over time. Thus, 'call at' is more prominent in written and spoken contexts where precise scheduling or formal updates are required.
B1
PreIntermediate
1. To stop by briefly at a place, usually used in the context of ships visiting ports or trains arriving at stations.
The cruise ship will call at several Caribbean islands during its itinerary.
The train calls at most major stations between Boston and New York.
2. To pay a brief visit to someone or a location, often for a specific purpose.
He promised to call at my office to discuss the contract tomorrow.
The inspector will call at the factory next week for the annual audit.