wring

verb

wrung ˈrəŋ How to pronounce wring (audio) ; wringing ˈriŋ-iŋ How to pronounce wring (audio)

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
3
a
: 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
wring noun

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 In my opinion, this suit is a far worthier crusade than Springer and its peers’ largely successful quest to wring fees out of Google and Facebook for what amounts to carrying links to articles. David Meyer, Fortune, 29 Feb. 2024 There's more humor to come, and joy to be wrung out of this bizarre non-identity crisis. Lauren Huff, EW.com, 28 Feb. 2024 As streamers work out how to wring more money from subscribers every single day, commercials have become a big part of the strategy. Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, 23 Feb. 2024 Some people on the internet flatly condemn same-day Super Bowl weddings, and those who have them often end up wringing their hands with worry. Tammy Lagorce, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2024 Iowans have grown increasingly adept every four years at wringing money out of candidates and the national political establishment, with this year’s spending reaching its pinnacle ahead of Monday’s caucuses. John McCormick, WSJ, 14 Jan. 2024 But assuming the 2% goal remains, wringing the last percentage point from overall inflation will not be easy or painless. Tom Saler, Journal Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2024 As a supplier of cutting-edge technology, Mercedes has mastered the art of the 4.0-liter V-8, wringing out the last ounce of performance from the compact format. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 13 Feb. 2024 There’s been much hand wringing about the state of the It bag. José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wring.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English wringan; akin to Old High German ringan to struggle, Lithuanian rengtis to bend down, Old English wyrgan to strangle — more at worry

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of wring was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near wring

Cite this Entry

“Wring.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wring. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

wring

verb
wrung ˈrəŋ How to pronounce wring (audio) ; wringing ˈriŋ-iŋ How to pronounce wring (audio)
1
: to squeeze or twist especially so as to make dry or to rid of moisture or liquid
wring wet clothes
2
: to get by or as if by twisting or pressing
wring the truth out of them
3
: to twist into an unnatural shape or appearance with a forcible or violent motion
wring a chicken's neck
4
: to cause pain to as if by wringing : torment
their troubles wrung our hearts

More from Merriam-Webster on wring

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!