call of nature

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

These horses occasionally answered the call of nature, creating a bacteria-filled environment that required the athletic trainer to keep a supply of tetanus shots on hand, to be administered when players’ wounds broke the skin.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 8, 2025

By suppressing the call of nature while you’re losing fluid through sweat, the body is trying to maintain that delicate water-to-salt ratio and keep everything working the way it should, she explained.

From Slate • Aug. 17, 2025

However, she almost missed her big moment by attending to a call of nature minutes before her name was called out.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2022

They also had to answer the call of nature, like everybody else - resulting in a very quirky lot.

From Washington Times • Sep. 27, 2017

A body must follow the call of nature, even in the dead of the night.

From "Chains" by Laurie Halse Anderson