Meaning & use
cadence call
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Meanings
nouncountablemilitary
A rhythmic chant or song called out by a leader to keep a group moving or working in time, especially during military training runs or marches.
Grammar: Countable; use 'a' or 'the' with singular, and 'cadence calls' for plural.
Patterns
- call a cadence call
- lead a cadence call
- a cadence call during a run
The drill sergeant started a cadence call, and the whole platoon answered in unison.
During the long march, the soldiers kept their spirits up with a loud cadence call.
She learned to lead a cadence call that matched the pace of the run.
nouncountable
Any similar rhythmic shout or chant used by a group to coordinate movement or effort, such as in rowing or team sports.
Grammar: Countable; often used with 'a' or 'the'.
Patterns
- a cadence call for rowing
- use a cadence call
- keep time with a cadence call
The rowing coach used a cadence call to keep the crew pulling together.
In boot camp, cadence calls are not just for running; they also build teamwork.
Word forms
| plural | cadence calls |
|---|
Common combinations
- lead a cadence call
- The corporal led a cadence call that echoed across the field.
- call out a cadence call
- He called out a cadence call to keep the troops in step.
- military cadence call
- Military cadence calls often have a call-and-response pattern.
- rhythmic cadence call
- The rhythmic cadence call helped the runners maintain a steady pace.
Synonyms and how they differ
- chant
- A chant is any repeated rhythmic phrase, often by a crowd; a cadence call is specifically led by one person to coordinate a group's movement.
- jody call
- A jody call is a type of military cadence call with specific lyrics; not all cadence calls are jody calls.
Word family
Commonly confused: cadence call or cadence?
cadence call vs cadence
Cadence alone means rhythm or flow; a cadence call is a particular type of rhythmic chant used by groups.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'cadence call' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A cadence call is a rhythmic chant used to coordinate a group's movement, especially in military training. Option B fits this meaning. Option A confuses it with a musical performance; option C uses it like a phone call; option D describes bird sounds, not a human-led chant.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “cadence call”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.