: a tone emitted by a telephone as a signal that the system is ready for dialing
Examples of dial tone in a Sentence
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.
Veteran apartment gropers know enough to commandeer every working telephone booth in the area using friends who listen to dial tones and weather reports for an hour before the newspapers arrive.—Nicholas Pileggi, Curbed, 15 Aug. 2025 Every version is supplied on a quick-release TPU strap matched to the dial tone, and a separate strap kit featuring four interchangeable quick-release straps is also available.—Matthew Catellier, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025 There is often a scene of the author waiting patiently, against the dial tone, to sign in to AOL.—Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2025 Calls to police precincts Tuesday evening dropped without a dial tone.—Dillon Mullan, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2024 See All Example Sentences for dial tone
Share