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ring

ring

85 1.0
The sound a bell or phone makes when struck
  • noun
  • /rɪŋ/
: sonido
  • You don 't answer by the fourth ring... ...that's the end of the game.

Examples

  • (school bell rings)

  • And suddenly the doorbell rings... and the whole setup is right there in the room with you.

  • Ring, ring, ring, ring, ring, ring.

  • The TV drones on in the background as the phone rings; everyone leaps into action again.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The alarm clock's little ring brought me back to my insipid daily reality.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Bridgetown residents were treated to the sound of St. Michael's ring of eight bells every holy day.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Instead of applause, I hear the faint high ring of a tiny mechanical insect: Tinnitus.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • [bell rings]

  • (Phones ring)

  • When the phone rings, I immediately know it is my friend calling.

Synonyms

ding
vsring
150 3.7

A short high sound like a small bell, for example a notification tone

is the general struck sound that can be longer or deeper
bing
vsring
45 7.7

A short high sound made by a phone or microwave

covers natural and electronic struck sounds, not only brief ones
dong
vsring
35 5.8

A deep sound a large bell or clock makes when it rings

is any pitch and size of struck sound, not only low tones
Ding Dongs
vsring
33 4.2

Clear ringing sounds that bells make

is the general bell sound and may be single or different
ringing
vsring
31 1.0

A clear loud sound a bell or similar thing makes when hit

is the general sound for many objects, not only that one
chime
vsring
29 1.7

A clear musical ringing sound made by a bell or a set of bells

is broader, not necessarily musical or tuned in quality
ping
vsring
28 6.4

A short, sharp high sound like metal being struck

is the general bell or alert sound rather than an echo tone
ching
vsring
14 8.9

A short sharp ringing sound made when metal or glass hits something

is the broader struck sound class, not limited to sharp clashes
ringtone
vsring
13 2.0

A short sound that plays on a phone when someone calls or messages you

refers to the basic alert sound, not a full melody choice
bell
vsring
4 1.0

A clear ringing sound made by a struck metal object

is the general sound from many objects, not just that instrument
ding-dong
vsring
1 3.6

A repeated ringing sound a bell makes

can be a single or varied sound rather than this repetition
bell ringing
vsring
1 3.3

A sound made by bells during a ceremony or musical performance

covers single or simple sounds as well as musical sets
toll
vsring
1 6.3

The slow deep sound a bell makes when hit

is any struck or activated sound, not specifically slow or repeated
tintinnabulation
vsring
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A light ringing sound made by bells or wind chimes

is the wider category of bell sounds rather than delicate tinkling
bell-like call
vsring
  • Texting
3.7

A short bell sound on a phone or app that signals a message

is a broader alarm or bell sound not limited to devices

Antonyms

373 2.0

A period with no sound or speech

143 1.0

A calm time with little or no sound

Idioms

to ring a bell
  • Informal
63 3.5

To seem familiar and make you remember something

7 8.9

To show too much respect and do what a person in power wants

Keep a wedding ring safely until it is needed in the ceremony

1 5.4

Make someone think there may be a problem

1 9.9

To fill the air with loud happy sounds like singing or laughter

To start a show by lifting the curtain

To say you will run for a position, for example in an election

Compounds

105 1.0

A metal band worn to show two people are married

A ring with a stone like a diamond given to someone to show they will marry

12 3.8

A small metal piece worn through the nose for decoration or to control an animal

10 1.0

A small metal ring that holds keys together

brass ring
  • Informal
8 7.4

A chance to get great success or a big reward

7 1.9

A square area with ropes where boxers fight

O-ring
  • Specialized
6 6.1

A round rubber or plastic ring that seals a joint to stop leaks

4 5.4

A situation with confusion and many things happening at once

cock ring
  • Offensive
4 9.8

A ring worn around the penis base to help keep an erection by reducing blood flow

4 3.6

A small ring that holds a person's napkin at the table

A live show with three rings where many acts happen at once

2 6.5

A ring with a carved seal used to stamp wax to show who owned or approved a document

2 6.0

A children's game where players hold hands, walk in a circle, and fall down while singing

2 2.4

A folder with rings that open to hold loose sheets of paper

2 3.2

A main road that goes around a city to avoid the center

2 2.7

A round object you throw to someone in water to help them float

2 5.3

With a tail that has clear dark and light bands

2 7.7

A ring of mushrooms that grows on grass from fungus under the ground

2 1.4

A small metal or plastic loop that hangs a curtain on a rod

growth ring
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A layer of wood made in one year that appears as a ring in a tree trunk

1 7.6

A young woman who walks into the boxing ring between rounds holding a sign with the next round number

A small ring that babies chew to soothe sore gums

A square platform with ropes where two people try to make each other fall

A small animal from Madagascar with a long tail that has black and white rings

1 5.3

A group of people who secretly run illegal betting, like on sports or card games

1 1.0

The finger between the middle finger and little finger where people often wear wedding rings

1 3.2

A metal ring on a gas stove that makes a flame for cooking

piston ring
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A thin metal band that fits around a piston to stop gas and oil leaking past it

Kayser-Fleischer ring
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A golden-brown or green ring at the edge of the clear front of the eye seen in Wilson's disease

coffee ring
  • Specialized
1 6.4

A ring-shaped mark that appears at the edge of a liquid drop as it dries

lock ring
  • Specialized
1 5.8

A small round ring that keeps a nut from coming loose

benzene ring
  • Specialized
1 5.4

A ring of six carbon atoms, each joined to a hydrogen, found in many organic molecules

prize ring
  • Archaic
1 4.9

A square area with ropes where boxers fight

ring ceremony
  • Formal
1 4.6

A formal event where students receive a class ring to mark graduation

ring vaccination
  • Specialized
1 3.7

Vaccinating people who were close to someone who had the disease to stop it spreading

1 3.6

A ring of wood in a tree trunk that shows one year's growth

ring-a-rosy
  • Baby Talk
1 9.9

A children's game where players hold hands, move in a circle and fall down together

A common bird with bright feathers and a white ring on its neck

1 1.9

A round hoop on a wall for hanging a towel

ring rot
  • Specialized
1 7.9

A disease caused by bacteria that makes potato and tomato stems or tubers rot in a ring

1 9.9

A type of flexible armor made of small metal rings linked together

ring-around-a-rosy
  • Baby Talk
1 8.0

A children's game where players hold hands in a circle, sing, and fall down

1 5.8

A raised circle where sumo wrestlers fight

1 9.9

A European bird often found on rocky hills with dark feathers and a white band on the male's neck

storage ring
  • Specialized
1 7.3

A ring of magnets that keeps charged particles like electrons moving fast in a particle accelerator

mourning ring
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A ring people wear to remember a dead person, often with writing or hair

1 7.0

A ring with a carved top you press into wax to make a mark

ring disease
  • Specialized
1 7.7

An illness of plants like tomatoes and potatoes caused by bacteria that makes dark rings in the stem

tension ring
  • Offensive
1 7.5

A ring that you put at the base of the penis to help it stay hard by reducing blood flow

snap ring
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A metal loop with a spring clip for quickly attaching rope or gear

ring wall
  • Specialized
1 6.9

A circular strong wall built under a heavy structure to support its weight

anchor ring
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A doughnut-shaped solid with a hole in the middle

A ring with a picture of the cartoon mouse Mickey Mouse

1 4.5

A group of people who form a circle and dance together, often holding hands

A mushroom that grows in a circle on grass

ring wall
  • Specialized
1 7.5

A circular wall around a village or town that protects people from attack

heterocyclic ring
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A ring of atoms in a molecule with at least one non-carbon atom

A small circular area of color on the skin around a bite or wound

1 3.6

A ring-shaped cake often made with fruit or nuts and topped with icing

key ring
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A secure place on a computer that stores passwords and secret codes for apps and the system

1 8.5

An animal like a raccoon that has a long bushy tail with black and white rings

slip ring
  • Specialized
1 7.4

A metal ring on a rotating part that keeps an electric connection to a fixed part

1 7.0

A ring that you put at the base of the penis to slow blood flow and help keep it hard

1 9.9

A European bird whose male has dark feathers and a white band around the neck

pinion and ring gear
  • Specialized
1 8.0

Gears that fit together at a right angle to send power between car axles

closed-ring
  • Specialized
7.7

Having atoms joined together to form a ring

ring containment
  • Specialized
7.4

A way to stop disease by giving vaccines to people exposed and their close contacts

ring armor
  • Archaic
9.9

Flexible protective clothing made from small metal rings linked together

A black thrush with a white band around its neck that lives on rocky hills

ring rot bacteria
  • Specialized
6.5

Bacteria that cause a disease making crops like potatoes and tomatoes go soft and brown

ring rot fungus
  • Specialized
8.0

A small living thing that makes fruits and vegetables rot, often making dry rings near sweet potato roots

6.9

A harmless snake with a bright ring around its neck found in North America or Europe

4.6

A low circular wall that keeps soil in place around plants

How Loud

peal
4 5.8
clang
21 3.9
ring
85 1.0
to chime
25 3.0
to tinkle
14 3.9

Surface Forms

ring singular
rings plural

Etymology

Ring for the sound comes from the clear noise a bell makes, so the 'ring' of a bell or phone is the sharp sound you hear when it is struck.