ring

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈriŋ 

1

: a circular band for holding, connecting, hanging, pulling, packing, or sealing

a key ring

a towel ring

2

: a circlet usually of precious metal worn especially on the finger

3

a

: a circular line, figure, or object

smoke ring

b

: an encircling arrangement

a ring of suburbs

c

: a circular or spiral course

—often used figuratively in plural in the phrase run rings around to describe surpassing an opponent decisively

4

a(1)

: an often circular space especially for exhibitions or competitions

especially : such a space at a circus

(2)

: a structure containing such a ring

b

: a usually square enclosure in which a fighting contest (such as a boxing or wrestling match) takes place

5

: a band of small objects revolving around a planet (such as Saturn) and composed of dust and icy or rocky fragments

6

: annual ring

7

a

: an exclusive combination of persons for a selfish and often corrupt purpose (as to control a market)

a wheat ring

b

: gang

8

: the field of a political contest : race

9

: food in the shape of a circle

10

: an arrangement of atoms represented in formulas or models in a cyclic manner

called also cycle

11

: a set of mathematical elements that is closed under two binary operations of which the first forms a commutative group with the set and the second is associative over the set and is distributive with respect to the first operation

12

rings plural

a

: a pair of usually rubber-covered metal rings suspended from a ceiling or crossbar to a height of approximately eight feet above the floor and used for hanging, swinging, and balancing feats in gymnastics

b

: an event in gymnastics competition in which the rings are used

13

: boxing entry 1

ended his ring career

ringlike

ˈriŋ-līk 

adjective

ring

2 of 4

verb (1)

ringed; ringing ˈriŋ-iŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to provide with a ring

2

: to place or form a ring around : encircle

police ringed the building

3

: girdle sense 2

4

: to throw a ringer over (the peg) in a game (such as horseshoes or quoits)

intransitive verb

1

a

: to move in a ring

b

: to rise in the air spirally

2

: to form or take the shape of a ring

ring

3 of 4

verb (2)

rang ˈraŋ  ; rung ˈrəŋ  ; ringing ˈriŋ-iŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to sound resonantly or sonorously

the doorbell rang

cheers rang out

2

a

: to be filled with a reverberating sound : resound

the halls rang with laughter

b

: to have the sensation of being filled with a humming sound

his ears rang

3

: to cause something to ring

ring for the butler

4

a

: to be filled with talk or report

the whole land rang with her fame

b

: to have great renown

c

: to sound repetitiously

their praise rang in his ears

5

: to have a sound or character expressive of some quality

a story that rings true

6

chiefly British : to make a telephone call

—usually used with up

transitive verb

1

: to cause to sound especially by striking

2

: to make (a sound) by or as if by ringing a bell

3

: to announce by or as if by ringing

4

: to repeat often, loudly, or earnestly

5

a

: to summon especially by bell

b

chiefly British : telephone

—usually used with up

ring

4 of 4

noun (2)

1

: a set of bells

2

: a clear resonant sound made by or resembling that made by vibrating metal

3

: resonant tone : sonority

4

: a loud sound continued, repeated, or reverberated

5

: a sound or character expressive of some particular quality

the story had a familiar ring

6

a

: the act or an instance of ringing

b

: a telephone call

Phrases

ring a bell

: to arouse a response

that name rings a bell

ring down the curtain

: to conclude a performance or an action

ring off the hook

: to ring frequently or constantly with incoming calls

the telephone was ringing off the hook

ring the changes or ring changes

: to run through the range of possible variations

ring up the curtain

: to begin a performance or an action

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• cabal
• conspiracy
• crew
• gang
• Mafia
• mob
• syndicate

Verb (1)

• circle
• compass
• embrace
• encircle
• enclose
• inclose
• encompass
• environ
• gird
• girdle
• surround
• wreathe

Verb (2)

• bong
• chime
• knell
• peal
• toll

Noun (2)

• buzz
• call

Examples of ring in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

When the sliver of fiery orange that remained of the sun disappeared, a black circle ringed by white light took its place. —Nathan Diller, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024

There’s no ringing the bell when you’re done with chemo. —Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024

The Citrus Heights suspect was arrested near Bayside Church on the 8100 block of Sierra College Boulevard when sheriff’s deputies were responding to an alarm ringing at the 34-acre campus, sheriff’s deputies said online. —Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024

Among the victims are thousands of Chinese immigrants, many of them smuggled across the Mexican border to toil in often abusive conditions at farms ringed by fences, surveillance cameras and guards with guns and machetes. —Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica, 14 Mar. 2024

Meanwhile, alarm bells around privacy and data security risks keep ringing, with some firms banning generative AI altogether. —Nick Rockel, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024

Plymouth police were called to Nessel's home Tuesday morning about a man sitting on Nessel's front porch after ringing her doorbell, the release said. —Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, 7 Mar. 2024

During an extended rant Tuesday night, instead of sounding triumphant after a string of Super Tuesday primary victories, Donald Trump sounded angry, ringing all sorts of alarm bells. —Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024

Wedding bells are ringing on season 6 of Love Is Blind! —Joelle Goldstein, Peoplemag, 6 Mar. 2024

Noun

In the below visual, the rings (temperature anomalies) are much tighter from 1880 to 1970 compared to the increase in a much shorter time: 1970-2024. —Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 12 Apr. 2024

Turner popped the question with a gorgeous Neil Lane ring, which was a princess cut diamond accented with two baguette cut diamonds, and further set with 128 small, round brilliant cut diamonds for a total weight of 3.15 carats. —Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 12 Apr. 2024

Corrections Director Bryan Stirling said inmates have run drug rings, fraud schemes and have even ordered killings from behind bars. —Jeffrey Collins, Quartz, 12 Apr. 2024

Released in 1962 and designed by Gilbert Albert, the unique bracelet watch (Ref. 3290) is accompanied by a matching ring and necklace. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024

That includes the most expensive things left behind like a 14-karat gold and diamond ring appraised at $37,050, a Birkin 25 Bag Rose Azalee Swift Tote appraised at $23,500, a pair of Louis Vuitton Nike Air Force 1 Mids valued at $12,000, and a silk-blend Givenchy gown valued at $9,990. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2024

Try teal spirals or striped acid yellow tapers in silver candleholders topped with jade rings or pale blue ones that look like large format rigatoni bent into interesting shapes. —Devra Ferst, Bon Appétit, 11 Apr. 2024

Researchers have previously observed volcanic vortex rings at a number of different volcanoes, according to a 2023 study on the rings’ dynamics in the journal Scientific Reports. —Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Apr. 2024

Not only will the medals be partly made of metal taken from the Eiffel Tower, organizers announced Tuesday; the landmark itself will be adorned by a 95 foot-long, 49 foot-high structure of the Olympic rings, made with French steel. —Alexander Smith, NBC News, 9 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, going back to Old English hring (masculine strong noun), going back to Germanic *hrenga- (whence also Old Frisian hring, ring "ring," Old Saxon hring "chain mail," Old High German ring, rinh "ring," Old Icelandic hringr), going back to dialectal Indo-European *kreng^ho-, *krong^ho-, whence also Old Church Slavic krǫgŭ "circle, ring," Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian krûg, Polish krąg

Note: The only certain attestations of this etymon are in Germanic and Slavic. As it violates an Indo-European root structure constraint on co-occurrence of a voiceless stop and a voiced aspirate stop, the etymon is presumably late or post-Indo-European, or borrowed from an unknown source.

Verb (1)

Middle English ringen, derivative of ring ring entry 1

Verb (2)

Middle English, from Old English hringan; akin to Old Norse hringja to ring

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ring

• go for the brass ring
• double-ring
• key ring
• ring-a-rosy
• ring-around-a-rosy
• ring-around-the-rosy
• ring-fence
• ring false
• ring finger
• ring pull
• ring stand
• ring-tailed
• ring toss
• ring true
• ring up
• show ring
• sound/ring/toll the death knell
• the brass ring
• tree ring
• three-ring circus
• benzene ring
• brass ring
• give (someone) a ring
• growth ring
• D ring
• life ring
• annual ring
• quotient ring
• coffee ring
• O-ring
• onion ring
• fairy ring
• gas ring
• ring dance
• nose ring
• have a hollow ring
• ring-billed gull
• piston ring
• ring off
• ring-necked
• ring-neck
• ring out
• ring ouzel
• ring in
• ring binder
• ring-a-levio
• ring-necked pheasant
• ring road
• ring hollow
• ring in at
• ring spot
• seal ring
• wedding ring
• ring in someone's ears/head
• throw/toss one's hat in/into the ring
• ring bearer
• ring-tailed lemur
• ring-porous
• ring changes
• teething ring
• grab the brass ring
• ring-a-lievo
• slip ring
• ring down the curtain
• ring the changes
• signet ring
• ring a bell
• ring-necked duck
• ring off the hook
• ring in the New Year
• ring up the curtain

Kids Definition

ring

1 of 4 noun

ˈriŋ 

1

: a circular band for holding, connecting, hanging, or pulling or for packing or sealing

a key ring

a towel ring

2

: a circular band usually of precious metal worn on the finger

3

: something circular in shape

smoke rings

4

: an often circular space for shows and contests

a circus ring

a boxing ring

5

: annual ring

6

: a group of persons involved in selfish or dishonest activities

a ring of thieves

7

plural : a pair of rings suspended from above and used for hanging, swinging, and balancing tricks in gymnastics

ringed

ˈriŋd

adjective

ringlike

ˈriŋ-ˌlīk 

adjective

ring

2 of 4 verb

ringed; ringing ˈriŋ-iŋ 

1

: to place or form a ring around : encircle

2

: to provide with a ring

3

: to throw a ringer over (the peg) in a game (as horseshoes)

4

: to form or take the shape of a ring

ring

3 of 4 verb

rang ˈraŋ  ; rung ˈrəŋ  ; ringing ˈriŋ-iŋ 

1

: to make a clear and vibrating sound when struck

church bells ringing

2

: to cause to sound especially by striking

rang the bell

3

: to announce by or as if by ringing

ring an alarm

ring in the new year

4

: to sound loudly

cheers rang out

5

a

: to be filled with echoing sound : resound

the whole hall rang with their cheers

b

: to have the feeling of being filled with a humming sound

his ears were ringing

6

: to be filled with talk or news

the whole town rang with news of the victory

7

: to seem to have some particular quality

her story rings true

8

a

: to call for especially by bell

ring for the servants

b

chiefly British : to call on the telephone

will ring you up tomorrow

ring

4 of 4 noun

1

: a set of bells

2

: a clear sound made by or as if by vibrating metal

3

: a tone like that of a bell

4

: a continuous or repeating loud noise

5

: something that suggests a certain quality

a story with the ring of truth

6

a

: the act or an instance of ringing

b

: a telephone call

Etymology

Noun

Old English hring "a circular band"

Verb

Old English hringan "to ring"

Medical Definition

ring

1 of 2 noun

ˈriŋ 

1

a

: a circular band

b

: an anatomical structure having a circular opening : annulus

2

: an arrangement of atoms represented in formulas or models in a cyclic manner as a closed chain

called also cycle

ring

2 of 2 intransitive verb

rang ˈraŋ  ; rung ˈrəŋ  ; ringing ˈriŋ-iŋ 

: to have the sensation of being filled with a humming sound

his ears rang