zing

1 of 2

noun

ˈziŋ 

1

: a shrill humming noise

2

a

: an enjoyably exciting or stimulating quality : zest

really put some zing into this industry

—Erwin Fine

b

: a sharply piquant flavor

barbecue sauce with zing

zing

2 of 2

verb

zinged; zinging; zings

intransitive verb

1

: to make or move with a humming sound

2

: zip, speed

transitive verb

1

: to hit suddenly : zap

2

: to criticize in a pointed or witty manner

Synonyms

Noun

• vigor
• energy
• juice
• life
• gas
• pep
• punch

Examples of zing in a Sentence

Noun

They needed to put some zing back into their relationship.

The chili peppers give the sauce a little extra zing.

Verb

The comics spent the evening cracking jokes and zinging each other.

His opponent has run television ads zinging him.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The kind of zing that hasn’t been consistent in his game so far this season. —Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025

Don’t love the zing of orange in baked goods? —Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Oct. 2025

Verb

In a fun and rigorous reading, Taubin zings Chazelle for omitting race in a nostalgic exercise that purports to be all about the birth of jazz. —Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 24 July 2025

Once in a while a strange alchemy occurs when words spoken or sung, or actions taken, music played, reaches across the footlights and zaps and zings those who watch in awe. —Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 20 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

imitative

First Known Use

Noun

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1911, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Rhymes for zing

• bing
• bring
• ching
• cling
• ding
• fling
• ging
• hing
• jing
• kling
• ling
• ming

Kids Definition

zing

noun

ˈziŋ

1

: a shrill humming sound

2

: a lively or energetic quality

a musical show with lots of zing