dial

verb

dialed or dialled; dialing or dialling

transitive verb

1

: to measure with a dial

2

a

: to manipulate a device (such as a dial) so as to operate, regulate, or select

dial your favorite program

dialed the wrong number

b

: call sense 1m(1)

dialed the office

intransitive verb

1

: to manipulate a dial

2

: to make a telephone call or connection

Synonyms of dial

• call
• phone
• telephone

Examples of dial in a Sentence

I'm sorry. I must have dialed the wrong number.

dialed 911 and asked for the police

Recent Examples on the Web

With Lee gone, King dialed 911 and locked the shop’s doors, court documents said. —Nina Giraldo, CNN Money, 9 June 2026

The family is urging anyone with information to dial 1-800-CALL-FBI. —Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026

Hogencamp dialed in from there, retiring six of the next seven batters. —Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 9 June 2026

Though dividend payments reward long-term shareholders, companies may dial them back if their finances are under pressure. —Darla Mercado, Cfp®, CNBC, 9 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing dial

• butt-dial
• dial tone
• dial-up
• don't touch that dial
• speed dial

Rhymes for dial

• denial
• mistrial
• posttrial
• pretrial
• retrial
• rial
• thiol
• trial
• vial
• sensorial

Kids Definition

dial

1 of 2 noun

di·​al ˈdī(-ə)l 

1

a

: sundial

b

: the face of a watch or clock

2

a

: a face or scale on which some measurement is registered usually by means of numbers and a pointer

the thermometer dial reads 60°

b

: a disk usually with a knob or slots that may be turned to make electrical connections (as on a telephone) or to regulate the operation of a device (as a radio)

dial

2 of 2 verb

dialed or dialled; dialing or dialling

1

: to turn a dial so as to operate, regulate, or select

2

: to make a telephone call or connection