ring

/rɪŋ/
noun, verb★Beginner
◆ What It Really Means
to sound familiar or seem genuine
Literal Meaning
to make a sound like a bell
Literal Breakdown
ringto produce a bell-like sound
◇ Mental Image
The mental image of a bell ringing, evoking familiarity or truth.
◈ When to Use
You might say, 'That name rings a bell,' meaning it sounds familiar.
◉ Cultural Note
The phrase 'ring a bell' is a common idiom in English, often used to describe something that seems familiar or true.
formal

a circular band, often made of metal and worn as jewelry, typically on a finger

He proposed to her with a simple gold ring.

The ring symbolized their engagement.

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Rings can also be made of other materials like wood or plastic.

general

a circular area or space, often enclosed by a boundary

The children played in the ring at the park.

The ring here refers to a circular play area.

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This usage is less common than the jewelry sense.

general

to make a sound like a bell or telephone

The phone rang loudly in the quiet room.

The verb 'ring' describes the sound of a phone or bell.

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This is the most common verb usage of 'ring'.

general

to surround or encircle something

The crowd rang the stage with cheers.

Here, 'ring' means to surround or encircle.

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This usage is less common than the sound-related verb sense.

Collocations

wedding ringa ring worn during marriagering tonethe sound a phone makes when it ringsring roada circular road around a city

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

ring a bellidiom
to sound familiar
ring the changesidiom
to vary something repeatedly
ring trueidiom
to seem genuine or accurate

💡Pro Tip

Common Confusion

The verb 'ring' is often confused with 'rang' (past tense of 'ring') and 'rang' (past tense of 'ring').

⚡Gold Rule

Noun vs. Verb

The noun 'ring' refers to a circular object, while the verb 'ring' refers to making a sound like a bell.

📖Word Origin

Old English 'hring,' from Proto-Germanic 'hringaz,' meaning 'something bent or curved.' Related to 'wreath' and 'wring.'

📝Usage Notes

The noun 'ring' is most commonly associated with jewelry, while the verb 'ring' typically refers to making a sound like a bell.

Word Breakdown

ring
circular shape or sound
root
English Dictionary