American Dictionary

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Definition ring in American English

ring verb

verb
/rɪŋ/
1

to make a bell produce a sound

Example

He rang the doorbell.

Synonyms and related words
1.1

if a bell rings, it produces a sound

Example

A bell rang and the children trooped back into the school.

Synonyms and related words
1.2

to ring a bell as a signal for someone to come to you or to help you

Example

Please ring for assistance.

Synonyms and related words
Example

The cobblestones rang beneath the horses' feet.

Synonyms and related words
2.1

if a place rings with a sound, it is full of a loud sound

Example

The room rang with his frightened cries.

Synonyms and related words
2.2

if a sound rings in a place, it is loud and you can hear it clearly

Example

A great cheer rang through the hall.

Synonyms and related words
3

if your ears ring, you continue to hear a loud sound in your head for a short time after you have heard a loud noise or someone has hit you

Example

The sound of the shot left Rory's ears ringing.

Synonyms and related words
4

to surround someone or something, especially in order to protect them or to prevent them from escaping

Example

Protesters carrying signs ringed the embassy.

Example

Ringed by soldiers for protection, he tried to address the crowd.

Synonyms and related words
4.1

to draw a circle around something, especially to show that you have chosen it or to make it easy to notice

Example

She ringed the date on the calendar in the kitchen.

Synonyms and related words
4.2

to put a metal ring with a special number on it around the leg of a bird so that you can recognize it again later. The usual American word is tag.

Synonyms and related words
5

to be constantly ringing because of a large number of incoming calls

Example

When Rebecca put her house on the market, her telephone was ringing off the hook.

Definition ring in American English