banged; banging; bangs
1
: to strike sharply : bump
banged his knee
2
: to knock, hit, or thrust vigorously often with a sharp noise
banged the door shut
3
vulgar slang
: to have sexual intercourse with
1
: to strike with a sharp noise or thump
2
: to produce a sharp often metallic explosive or percussive noise or series of such noises
3
: to play a sport (such as basketball) in a very aggressive and forceful manner
bang for rebounds
1
: a resounding blow
2
: a sudden loud noise
—often used interjectionally
3
a
: a sudden striking effect
b
: a quick burst of energy
start off with a bang
c
: thrill
I get a bang out of all this—
W. H. Whyte
W. H. Whyte4
vulgar slang
a
: an act of copulation
b
: a sexual partner
5
informal
: exclamation point
plural bangs
US
: the front section of a person's hair when it is cut short and worn over the forehead
—usually used in plural
wore her bangs short
She had long hair with bangs.
In person, Miss Chin is small and pretty, with black button eyes, fluffy black bangs and dimples that show when she giggles …—Helen Lawrenson
Helen Lawrenson
banged; banging; bangs
: to cut (hair) short and squarely across
Phrases
bang for the buck
or less commonly bang for one's buck
or bang for the dollar
or bang for one's dollar
US, informal
: value received from outlay or effort
investment is yielding less bang for the buck—Fortune
Fortune"They are going to try to get the best bang for their dollar, and they have to do it this way." Brock Lesnar
Examples of bang in a Sentence
Verb (1)
the toy car banged into the wall and stopped
idly banged trees with a stick
stomped off to his room and banged the door
Noun (1)
delivered a sharp bang that rattled the door
a sudden bang made the cat jump
tried to get the most bang for her money at the attractions at the county fair
Adverb
The show began bang on time.
the reform movement was just beginning when it bang ran into opposition
Recent Examples on the Web
Marci Robin, Allure, 27 June 2025
Festivities end with a bang with fireworks at the lakefront at 9:30 p.m.
Glencoe’s celebration takes place across July 3 and July 4, with the beach closed on July 3 and open to season pass holders only on July 4.
—Pioneer Press, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2025
David Phelan, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
By the time protests peaked in Old San Juan, more than a million people had taken to the streets, spending days and nights banging pots and pans, reading the Constitution aloud, and chanting the simple demand that the governor resign.
—Megan Schrader, Denver Post, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bang
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Noun
Sabrina Carpenter rarely strays from her signature look, which is arguably long, super-voluminous hair at various levels of curl, curtain bangs, full brows, and brownish-pink lips.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 27 June 2025
Festivities end with a bang with fireworks at the lakefront at 9:30 p.m.
Glencoe’s celebration takes place across July 3 and July 4, with the beach closed on July 3 and open to season pass holders only on July 4.
—Pioneer Press, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2025
Verb
Instead of the Apple logo sitting dead-center in the circle, the suggestion is that a partial circle will be deployed, so as not to bang into the logo.
—David Phelan, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
By the time protests peaked in Old San Juan, more than a million people had taken to the streets, spending days and nights banging pots and pans, reading the Constitution aloud, and chanting the simple demand that the governor resign.
—Megan Schrader, Denver Post, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bang
Cite this Entry
“Bang.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bang. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bang
1 of 4 verb
: to beat, strike, or shut with a loud noise
bang
2 of 4 noun1
: a violent blow
2
: a sudden loud noise
3
a
: a quick burst of energy
start off with a bang
b
: a feeling of being thrilled or pleased
you'll get a bang out of this
bang
3 of 4 noun
: hair cut short across the forehead
—usually used in plural
bang
4 of 4 verb
: to cut (front hair) short and squarely across
Etymology
Verb
probably of Scandinavian origin
Noun
probably from earlier bangtail "a short tail (on a horse)"
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