noun
callback
Callback (noun) means a return phone call, especially one made to confirm or follow up. Example: “I left a message and I'm waiting on a callback from the doctor's office.”
noun
1
A return phone call, especially one made to confirm or follow up.
"I left a message and I'm waiting on a callback from the doctor's office."
2
A follow-up audition or interview after an initial one goes well.
"She got a callback for the lead role after her first audition."
3
In programming, a function passed to another function to be run later, often after some task finishes.
"The API executes your callback once the file has finished uploading."
4
A joke or reference in a comedy routine that circles back to something said earlier.
"The comedian ended the set with a clever callback to his opening joke."
How to use callback
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA follow-up contact, audition, or reference — the general theme is something coming back around after an initial one.
Common pairings
get a callback
callback function
comedic callback
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Word forms
- Plural
- callbacks
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
I left a message and I'm waiting on a _____ from the doctor's office.
Etymology
Formed from the phrasal verb "call back."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for callback
See all rhymes for callback →Frequently asked questions
What does “callback” mean?
The word “callback” means a return phone call, especially one made to confirm or follow up. In plain terms, a follow-up contact, audition, or reference — the general theme is something coming back around after an initial one.
How do you use “callback” in a sentence?
Here is “callback” used in a sentence: “I left a message and I'm waiting on a callback from the doctor's office.”
What part of speech is “callback”?
“Callback” is a noun.
How many meanings does “callback” have?
“Callback” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a return phone call, especially one made to confirm or follow up.
