: the sound made by a cell phone to signal an incoming call

Examples of ringtone 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.
However, because his hearing aids connected directly to the ringtone, the two ended up wandering around the house, using the changing volume to narrow down its location instead of listening for the phone itself. Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 5 July 2026 The ringtone was a rumba song by Spanish band Los Desgraciaus called Los Coches Chocones. Guillermo Rai, New York Times, 27 May 2026 In 2006, the RIAA also certified songs downloaded as ringtones and began accounting for streaming audio and/or video, with 150 on-demand streams counting as one unit for certification purposes. Encyclopedia Britannica, 20 May 2026 The incoming call emits a blaring ringtone that alerts a three-man crew at a moment’s notice. Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for ringtone

Word History

First Known Use

1983, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ringtone was in 1983

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Cite this Entry

“Ringtone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ringtone. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

: the sound made by a cell phone to signal an incoming call

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