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clink

1 of 3

verb

clinked; clinking; clinks

intransitive verb

: to give out a slight sharp short metallic sound

transitive verb

: to cause to clink

clink

2 of 3

noun (1)

: a clinking sound

clink

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
slang : a prison cell
2
slang : jail, prison

Examples of clink in a Sentence

Verb When she'd completed the toast, they clinked glasses. coins clinking in his pocket as he traipsed down the street Noun (2) I once spent a night in the clink, and it's an experience I don't want to repeat
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Where to Eat Linger for hours on the patio at Lakeside Chophouse, clinking glasses of Vinho Verde and watching deer saunter by. Shilo Urban, Travel + Leisure, 22 Nov. 2025 Each robot, remotely operated, clinks glasses and gestures in unison, embodying the camaraderie and hope of the musical’s revolutionaries. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
At Stitch Club Atlanta's monthly gatherings, and weekly stitch nights at local needlepoint stores, needles click, glasses clink and conversations flow as dozens of women — and even a few pets — settle in for an evening of stitching, snacks and connection. Alexa Liacko, CBS News, 23 Nov. 2025 Behind the glass doors of an unassuming building in Manhattan, staring across a shuttered print shop, a shadowy world stirred, coming alive with the flick of cards, the muted clink of glasses and the quiet hum of a dangerous secret. Alaa Elassar, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for clink

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, of imitative origin

Noun (2)

probably from Clink, a prison in Southwark, London, England

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (1)

circa 1540, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of clink was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clink.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clink. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

clink

verb
ˈkliŋk
: to make or cause to make a slight sharp short sound like that of metal being struck
glasses clinked
clink noun

More from Merriam-Webster on clink

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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