Definition of 'ring'

Word Frequency

ring telephoning or making a sound

(rɪŋ )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense rings , present participle ringing , past tense rang , past participle rung

1. verb

When you ring someone, you phone them.

[mainly British]

He rang me at my mother's. [VERB noun]

If you'd like more information, ring the Hotline on 414 3929. [VERB noun]

I would ring when I got back to the hotel. [VERB]

She has rung home just once. [VERB adverb]

Could someone ring for a taxi? [VERB + for]

Synonyms: phone, call, telephone, buzz [informal, mainly British] More Synonyms of ring

Ring up means the same as ring1.

You can ring us up anytime. [VERB noun PARTICLE]

John rang up and invited himself over for dinner. [VERB PARTICLE]

A few months ago I rang up about some housing problems. [V P + about]

Nobody rings up a doctor in the middle of the night for no reason. [VERB PARTICLE noun]

regional note: in AM, usually use call

2. verb

When a phone rings, it makes a sound to let you know that someone is phoning you.

As soon as he got home, the phone rang. [VERB]

The phone never stopped ringing. [VERB]

Ring is also a noun.

After at least eight rings, an ancient-sounding maid answered the phone.

ringing uncountable noun

She was jolted out of her sleep by the ringing of the phone. [+ of]

3. verb

When you ring a bell or when a bell rings, it makes a sound.

He heard the school bell ring. [VERB]

The door was opened before she could ring the bell. [VERB noun]

Synonyms: chime, sound, toll, resound More Synonyms of ring

Ring is also a noun.

There was a ring at the bell.

ringing uncountable noun

...the ringing of church bells. [+ of]

4. verb

If you ring for something, you ring a bell to call someone to bring it to you. If you ring for someone, you ring a bell so that they will come to you.

Shall I ring for a fresh pot of tea? [VERB + for]

He rang for the guard to let him out. [VERB for noun]

5. verb

If you say that a place is ringing with sound, usually pleasant sound, you mean that the place is completely filled with that sound.

[literary]

The whole place was ringing with music. [VERB + with]

[Also VERB]

Synonyms: reverberate, echo, resound, resonate More Synonyms of ring

6. singular noun

You can use ring to describe a quality that something such as a statement, discussion, or argument seems to have. For example, if an argument has a familiar ring, it seems familiar.

His proud boast of leading 'the party of low taxation' has a hollow ring.

See to ring the changes

See ring in one's ears/ring in one's head

See give sb a ring

10.

See to ring true

11. See also ringing

12. to ring a bell

Phrasal verbs:

See ring around

See ring back

See ring in

See ring off

See ring out

See ring round

See ring up

More Synonyms of ring

Word Frequency

ring shapes and groups

(rɪŋ )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense rings , present participle ringing , past tense, past participle ringed

1. countable noun

A ring is a small circle of metal or other substance that you wear on your finger as jewellery.

She wore several diamond rings.

...a gold wedding ring.

2. countable noun

An object or substance that is in the shape of a circle can be described as a ring.

Frank took a large ring of keys from his pocket. [+ of]

...a ring of blue smoke. [+ of]

Synonyms: circle, round, band, circuit More Synonyms of ring

3. countable noun

A group of people or things arranged in a circle can be described as a ring.

They then formed a ring around the square.

...grilled fish surrounded by a ring of thinly cut carrots.

4. countable noun

A gas or electric ring is one of the small flat areas on top of a stove which heat up and which you use for cooking.

[mainly British]regional note: in AM, usually use burner

5. countable noun

At a boxing or wrestling match or a circus, the ring is the place where the contest or performance takes place. It consists of an enclosed space with seats round it.

He will never again be allowed inside a British boxing ring.

6. countable noun [usually noun NOUN]

You can refer to an organized group of people who are involved in an illegal activity as a ring.

They exposed a smuggling ring trading in illegal elephants.

...an international spy ring.

7. verb [usually passive]

If a building or place is ringed with or by something, it is surrounded by it.

The areas are sealed off and ringed by troops. [be VERB-ed]

8. verb

If you ring a bird, you put a small metal ring around its leg so that you can identify it and study its movements and habits.

[mainly British]

He demonstrated his techniques for ringing birds. [VERB noun]

regional note: in AM, usually use tag

See to run rings around someone

Video: pronunciation of
ring

ring in British English 1

(rɪŋ )

noun

a circular band usually of a precious metal, esp gold, often set with gems and worn upon the finger as an adornment or as a token of engagement or marriage

any object or mark that is circular in shape

a circular path or course

to run around in a ring

a group of people or things standing or arranged so as to form a circle

a ring of spectators

an enclosed space, usually circular in shape, where circus acts are performed

a square apron or raised platform, marked off by ropes, in which contestants box or wrestle

7. the ring

the field of competition or rivalry

9. throw one's hat in the ring

10.

a group of people usually operating illegally and covertly

a drug ring

a paedophile ring

11.

(esp at country fairs) an enclosure, often circular, where horses, cattle, and other livestock are paraded and auctioned

12.

an area reserved for betting at a racecourse

13.

a circular strip of bark cut from a tree or branch, esp in order to kill it

14.

a single turn in a spiral

15. geometry

the area of space lying between two concentric circles

16. mathematics

a set that is subject to two binary operations, addition and multiplication, such that the set is an Abelian group under addition and is closed under multiplication, this latter operation being associative

17. botany short for annual ring

18. Also called: closed chain chemistry

a closed loop of atoms in a molecule

19. astronomy

any of the thin circular bands of small bodies orbiting a giant planet, esp Saturn

ring in British English 2

(rɪŋ )

verbWord forms: rings, ringing, rang or rung

to emit or cause to emit a sonorous or resonant sound, characteristic of certain metals when struck

to cause (a bell) to emit a ringing sound by striking it once or repeatedly or (of a bell) to emit such a sound

a. (transitive)

to cause (a large bell, esp a church bell) to emit a ringing sound by pulling on a rope that is attached to a wheel on which the bell swings back and forth, being sounded by a clapper inside it

Compare chime1 (sense 6)

b. (intransitive)

(of a bell) to sound by being swung in this way

4. (intransitive)

(of a building, place, etc) to be filled with sound; echo

the church rang with singing

5. (intransitive; foll by for)

to call by means of a bell, buzzer, etc

to ring for the butler

6. Also: ring up mainly British

to call (a person) by telephone

7. (transitive)

to strike or tap (a coin) in order to assess its genuineness by the sound produced

8. (intransitive)

(of the ears) to have or give the sensation of humming or ringing

9. (intransitive) electronics

(of an electric circuit) to produce a damped oscillatory wave after the application of a sharp input transition

10. (transitive) slang

to change the identity of (a stolen vehicle) by using the licence plate, serial number, etc, of another, usually disused, vehicle

11. ring a bell

12. ring down the curtain

13. ring false

14. ring the bell

15. ring the changes

16. ring true

noun

17.

the act of or a sound made by ringing

18.

a sound produced by or suggestive of a bell

19.

any resonant or metallic sound, esp one sustained or re-echoed

the ring of trumpets

20. informal, mainly British

a telephone call

he gave her a ring last night

21.

the complete set of bells in a tower or belfry

a ring of eight bells

peal1 (sense 3)

22.

an inherent quality or characteristic

his explanation has the ring of sincerity

23. electronics

the damped oscillatory wave produced by a circuit that rings

▶ USAGE Rang and sang are the correct forms of the past tenses of ring and sing, although rung and sung are still heard informally and dialectally: he rung (rang) the bell

Word origin

Old English hringan; related to Old High German hringen Old Norse hringja

Word Frequency

ring in American English 1

(rɪŋ )

verb intransitiveWord forms: rang or Chiefly Dialectalrung, rung, ˈringing

to give forth a clear, resonant sound when struck or otherwise caused to vibrate, as a bell

to produce, as by sounding, a specified impression on the hearer

promises that ring false

to cause a bell or bells to sound, esp. as a summons

to ring for a maid

to sound loudly or be full of sound; be resonant; resound

the room rang with laughter

to have a sensation as of ringing, humming, etc.

said of the ears or head

verb transitive

to cause (a bell, etc.) to ring

to sound (a peal, knell, etc.) by or as by ringing a bell or bells

to signal, proclaim, announce, summon, etc. by or as by ringing

chimes rang the hours

to test (coins, etc.) by the sound produced in striking on something hard

10. Chiefly British

to call by telephone

often with up

11. Slang

to substitute (originally a racehorse) fraudulently

often with in

noun

12.

the sound of a bell

13.

any similar sound

the ring of laughter

any loud sound, esp. when repeated, continued, or reverberated

14.

the characteristic sound or impression (of some feeling)

the ring of sincerity

15.

a set of bells

16.

the act of ringing a bell, etc.

17.

a telephone call

chiefly in give someone a ring, to telephone someone

Idioms:

ring a bell

ring down the curtain

Word origin

ME ringen < OE hringan < IE echoic base *ker- > raven1, creak, L corvus, crow

Word Frequency

ring in American English 2

(rɪŋ )

noun

a small, circular band of metal, etc., esp. of precious metal, often set with gems, for wearing on the finger as an ornament or a symbol of betrothal, marriage, etc.

any similar band, as of metal, plastic, etc., used for some special purpose

a key ring, a napkin ring

a circular line, mark, or figure

the outer edge or border of something circular; rim, as of a wheel

a circular cut made, or a circle of bark cut from, around the trunk or a branch of a tree

annual ring

any of the turns in a helix or spiral

a circular course, as in dancing

a number of people or things grouped in a circle

10. US

a group of people working together to advance their own interests, esp. by questionable or illegal manipulation and control, as in business, politics, etc.

11.

an enclosed area, often circular, for contests, exhibitions, etc.

a circus ring

12.

an enclosure, now usually a square, canvas-covered area set off by stakes and ropes, in which boxing and wrestling matches are held

the sport or profession of boxing; prizefighting

with the

c. [pl.]; Gymnastics

two wooden rings suspended from a ceiling, used for acrobatic feats and routines

, usually with the

d. [pl.]; Gymnastics

a competitive event in which the rings are used

, usually with the

13.

a contest or competition, esp. a political one, as in throw one's hat into the ring

Example sentences including
ring

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…

Waiting for a bell to ring to go and vote.The bank said it would ring back.More progress has been made one rung below the main board.She also rang her parents after the row.Everyone used to ring me up.It would set alarms ringing earlier.The security chief's phone rang three times in five minutes.The next day, the landline rang again : another computer. Surely there was enough evidence of chaos and neglect to set alarm bells ringing?She often puts a ring on that finger.