clank

verb \ ˈklaŋk \

Updated on: 19 Apr 2018

Definition of clank

intransitive verb

1 : to make a clank or series of clanks

the radiator hissed and clanked

2 : to go with or as if with a clank

tanks clanking through the streets

transitive verb

: to cause to clank

—

clankingly

play \ˈklaŋ-kiŋ-lē\ adverb

See clank defined for English-language learners

See clank defined for kids

Examples of clank in a Sentence

The radiator hissed and clanked.
The empty can clanked along the sidewalk.
a ghost clanking its chains

Recent Examples of clank from the Web

Amid clanking plates, a sizzling grill and customers on the go, an elderly man timidly asked Williams to cut his ham.

— natalie johnson, CNN, "A waitress takes time to cut elderly diner's ham. Kind act wins her a college scholarship," 13 Apr. 2018
Before long, the indefatigable 45-year-old is on the PA system to deliver a high-octane, 60-second call to arms, drowning out the din of churning treadmills and clanking weights.

— edgar thompson, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Gators' Dan Mullen uses relentless effort, energy to re-energize beleaguered fan base," 11 Apr. 2018
His edited recording began to play, and a few musicians from the orchestra slowly added textures that mimicked the sounds of Pat’s — with metallic percussion instruments evoking clanking spatulas and a rainstick suggesting the sizzling steak.

— michael cooper, New York Times, "How a Philly Cheesesteak Goes From the Grill to Carnegie Hall," 9 Apr. 2018
But this time, instead of a shot ending in an opposing dogpile at Matthew Knight Arena, Holiday's shot clanked off the rim.

— tyson alger, OregonLive.com, "Moments of execution for Oregon following another collapse saves win for Ducks against UCLA," 20 Jan. 2018
Well, the Raptors did, clanking a desperation potential game tying 3-pointer at the buzzer.

— chris fedor, cleveland.com, "Cleveland Cavaliers' road to NBA Finals has never been tougher, as changed Toronto Raptors show: Chris Fedor," 22 Mar. 2018
The ball clanked off the backboard and rim, and Trey Kell pulled his jersey over his face.

— mark zeigler, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Aztecs lose to Houston as Kell's final shot fails to fall," 16 Mar. 2018
By the time the ball clanked softly off the front of the rim, Simmons was all by himself underneath the basket, elevating again for the easy put-back.

— david murphy, Philly.com, "Despite loss, Sixers and Ben Simmons have big things to come | David Murphy," 13 Mar. 2018
At one point in the second half, with TCU seizing the game’s momentum, senior guard Kenrich Williams dribbled the ball down the court, stopped at the top of the key and took a three-pointer early in the shot clock that clanked off the rim.

— sam mcdowell, star-telegram, "OT Thriller: Buzzer-beater in regulation not enough for TCU in Big 12 Tournament | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 8 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'clank.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of clank

probably imitative

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1656

See Words from the same year

clank

noun

Definition of clank

: a sharp brief metallic ringing sound

Examples of clank in a Sentence

the car is making a funny clank, and this can't be good

Recent Examples of clank from the Web

There is the sound of rustling, followed by clanks, and then a sustained whoosh of loud, mechanical hissing.

— bronwen dickey, Popular Mechanics, "The Lost Kids on the Line," 14 Mar. 2018
The drought has hurt most since 2014, when the Americans blew a 2-0 lead in the gold medal game and had the puck clank off the post, just missing an empty-net goal before Canada tied it with 54.6 seconds left in regulation.

— teresa m. walker, The Seattle Times, "Canada women shooting for 5th straight Olympic hockey gold," 19 Jan. 2018
For someone who’s set off by the tiniest clank of a spoon on a cereal bowl, the jostling drunks and traffic and hype is a special kind of torture.

— SI.com, "In Oakland, Jon Gruden Is Ready to Grind," 19 Feb. 2018
Somehow, perhaps unnerved by the clanks and clunks, Fanucci had escaped his crate, pulled down the window and leapt out.

— ben walker, The Seattle Times, "Dogged: Badly wrecked, German shepherd shows at Westminster," 11 Feb. 2018
Chun, looking for a hat trick, had an attempt clank off the right post.

— kyle stackpole, baltimoresun.com, "River Hill girls soccer shuts out Wilde Lake, 2-0, in sectional final," 3 Nov. 2017
Having a water bottle clank around on the outside of your bag is annoying while on a hike in the middle of the woods, let alone on a bus or light rail.

— adrienne so, WIRED, "Review: Timbuk2 Lug Knapsack," 1 Nov. 2017
Sussex Hamilton’s Leonardi lands eagle Sussex Hamilton girls golf coach Randy Howard heard the clank and figured the ball could have ricocheted anywhere.

— jr radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "State golf: Catholic Memorial's Brandt tied for D2 lead; Arrowhead has big cushion in D1," 9 Oct. 2017
Our ears registered louder thwacks compared with the competitors over the same cracks and expansion joints on-road—similar to the almost metallic clank of a bouncing basketball.

— eric tingwall, Car and Driver, "Gumshoes: Five Sticky Summer Performance Tires Tested," 26 July 2017