ringing

adjective

ring·​ing ˈriŋ-iŋ How to pronounce ringing (audio)
1
: clear and full in tone : resounding
a ringing baritone
2
: vigorously unequivocal : decisive
a ringing condemnation of immorality
ringingly adverb

Examples of ringing in a Sentence

Do you hear that ringing sound? an angry, ringing denial of the charges
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.
Two years later, the print received another ringing endorsement. Natalie Hammond, CNN Money, 25 Aug. 2025 While most graduations take place in arenas in May, the ringing applause heard throughout the center yesterday marked the end of the high school educational journeys for over 50 students, many of whom have been involved with gun violence and used school to change their life direction. Chicago Tribune, 22 Aug. 2025 Not exactly a ringing endorsement. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 17 Aug. 2025 Although it can be characterized by a ringing, pulsing, buzzing, hissing or squealing sound, audiologists say the source of the condition lies in the brain's neural networks. Adrianna Rodriguez, USA Today, 30 Apr. 2025 But with a will Strike all your harps and set them ringing; On hill and heath Let every breath Throw all its power into singing! Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2024 His ringing, carefree laugh mixed with soaring rhetoric about democracy, working families and hope. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2024 About 75 firefighters responded to the incident, and were still trying to douse the flames as of 11 p.m. Battalion Chief Robert Rezende told OnScene TV that the call initially came in as a ringing alarm. Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Feb. 2022 The next year, President Kennedy made a resonant decision: to boldly go, as the Star Trek prologue was to put it in a ringing split infinitive, where no man had gone before. Anthony Haden-Guest, Harper's Magazine, 26 Oct. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ringing.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ringing. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on ringing

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!