wring

verb

\ ˈriŋ

wrung\ ˈrəŋ

\; wringing\ ˈriŋ-iŋ

Definition of wring

transitive verb

1 : to squeeze or twist especially so as to make dry or to extract moisture or liquid wring a towel dry

2 : to extract or obtain by or as if by twisting and compressing wring water from a towel wring a confession from the suspect

3a : to twist so as to strain or sprain into a distorted shape I could wring your neck

b : to twist together (clasped hands) as a sign of anguish

4 : to affect painfully as if by wringing : torment a tragedy that wrings the heart

intransitive verb

: squirm, writhe

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Examples of wring in a Sentence

I wrung the towel and hung it up to dry. I wrung my hair and wrapped it in a towel.

Recent Examples on the Web

As the hurricane proceeds on its path, the sponge is constantly absorbing water and wringing itself out, producing rain. — David Fleshler, sun-sentinel.com, "A new top killer emerges in hurricanes, and many blame climate change," 28 June 2019 The banks face rewards enthusiasts who take pride in wringing the most benefits from each card. — Emily Glazer, WSJ, "Rewards Credit Cards Gained a Fanatic Following—Now Banks Are Pulling Back," 1 Jan. 2019 Funny because Saadawi wrings a good deal of black humor out of the way the monster’s pieces fall off at inopportune moments. — Dwight Garner, New York Times, "In ‘Frankenstein in Baghdad,’ a Fantastical Manifestation of War’s Cruelties," 22 Jan. 2018 Prior to Sunday night’s Golden Globes, some fashion pundits were wringing their hands over the #WhyWeWearBlack movement: Would the sameness be boring? — Laurie Brookins, The Hollywood Reporter, "Golden Globes 2018: Necklaces Rule The Red Carpet," 8 Jan. 2018 She was baffled by the hand-wringing trickling through the scientific literature on screen time. — Jessica Wapner, SELF, "How Worried Do You Really Need to Be About Your Screen Time?," 7 Feb. 2019 While the drive to eliminate cash is fueled partly by capitalism’s impulse to wring waste out of the system, it is also propelled by consumers’ desire to make their lives easier. — Town & Country, "Is This the End of Cash?," 28 Jan. 2019 One of the more emotionally wringing plot lines thus far this season is centered around Kate and Toby, who are trying to get pregnant. — Tess Kornfeld, Glamour, "This Is Us Fans Are Losing It Over This Deleted Scene," 13 Oct. 2018 This is why friends of the region’s hard left are wringing their hands and crying that the Treasury rules will hurt the Venezuelan people. — Mary Anastasia O’grady, WSJ, "Power and Money in Venezuela," 10 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wring.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.