call to arms

communication action

A 'call to arms' can be both a literal military command and a figurative appeal for action or support.

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Definition

B2Military

(formal, historical)A command for soldiers to prepare for battle.

Example

The general issued a call to arms to defend the city.

B2General

(figurative, motivational)An appeal for people to take action or support a cause.

Example

The speech was a call to arms for environmental activists.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "call to arms":

call to action battle cry call to call for call forth go to war up in arms call out trumpet call order arms call on declare war armed response call up take up the cudgels port arms