banged; banging; bangs
1
: to strike sharply : bump
banged his knee
2
: to knock, hit, or thrust vigorously often with a sharp noise
banged the door shut
3
vulgar slang
: to have sexual intercourse with
1
: to strike with a sharp noise or thump
2
: to produce a sharp often metallic explosive or percussive noise or series of such noises
3
: to play a sport (such as basketball) in a very aggressive and forceful manner
bang for rebounds
1
: a resounding blow
2
: a sudden loud noise
—often used interjectionally
3
a
: a sudden striking effect
b
: a quick burst of energy
start off with a bang
c
: thrill
I get a bang out of all this—
W. H. Whyte
W. H. Whyte4
vulgar slang
a
: an act of copulation
b
: a sexual partner
5
informal
: exclamation point
plural bangs
US
: the front section of a person's hair when it is cut short and worn over the forehead
—usually used in plural
wore her bangs short
She had long hair with bangs.
In person, Miss Chin is small and pretty, with black button eyes, fluffy black bangs and dimples that show when she giggles …—Helen Lawrenson
Helen Lawrenson
banged; banging; bangs
: to cut (hair) short and squarely across
Phrases
bang for the buck
or less commonly bang for one's buck
or bang for the dollar
or bang for one's dollar
US, informal
: value received from outlay or effort
investment is yielding less bang for the buck—Fortune
Fortune"They are going to try to get the best bang for their dollar, and they have to do it this way." Brock Lesnar
Synonyms
Verb (1)
Noun (1)
- bash
- bat
- beat
- belt
- biff
- blow
- bop
- box
- buffet
- bust
- chop
- clap
- clip
- clout
- crack
- cuff
- dab
- douse [British]
- fillip
- hack
- haymaker
- hit
- hook
- knock
- larrup [dialect]
- lash
- lick
- pelt
- pick
- plump
- poke
- pound
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slug
- smack
- smash
- sock
- spank
- stinger
- stripe
- stroke
- swat
- swipe
- switch
- thud
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- welt
- whack
- wham
- whop
- whap
Adverb
Examples of bang in a Sentence
Adverb
The show began bang on time.
the reform movement was just beginning when it bang ran into opposition
Recent Examples on the WebUSA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2024
Making your own extract is a great way to get the most bang for your buck.
—Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024
So, which Ivy gets you the most bang for your buck?
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024
Her sandy blonde hair was pulled back as layered curtain bangs framed her face.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
For instance, with consumers and business clients now demanding exceptional and personalized service, CMOs can work with COOs to pinpoint where spending on the customer experience will offer the best bang for their buck and, inversely, where precious capital would be wasted.
—Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2024
To get the most bang for your buck, check nannies' references.
—Becky Batcha and Hiranmayi Srinivasan, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
Add visual interest with the casual geometric pattern from Novogratz's Umbria Rug or Nicole Miller's playful Danica Area Rug. Get the most bang for your buck with a reversible option, like Sixhome's Floral Rectangle Patio Rug or Nfeco's Leafy design.
—Wendy Vazquez, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Mar. 2024
To get the most bang for your exercise buck, your workout program should be weighted heavily in favor of these easy days.
—Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 6 Apr. 2024
Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024
Using soft-action baitcasting rods and 8-pound abrasion-resistant line, troll between 1.5 and 2.5 mph in a lazy S pattern, alternately sweeping the open water over the channel and banging bottom on top of the drop with your lures.
—Don Wirth, Field & Stream, 4 Apr. 2024
But he was stranded when the Brewers banged into an inning-ending double-play.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
The meeting went on for two hours and 41 minutes, with board members interrupting and insulting one another and raising their voices to the point that the board vice president had to bang a gavel to stop the arguing.
—Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
The performers joined forces to collectively bang a drum, dressed in traditional Osage attire, as the women sang.
—Tatiana Tenreyro, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024
Babies develop hand-eye coordination by banging, nesting, stacking, and rolling these cups around.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
In recent years, records show, inmates have died from jumping off railings, banging their heads against a wall and injecting drugs with makeshift needles — all in view of jail surveillance cameras that no one watched until later.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
The 6-foot-6 defensive savant endures more physical punishment at center, banging bodies inside on box-outs.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2024
Noun
One way to make your money go further and get more bang for your buck is to make your own liquid soap.
—USA TODAY, 21 Apr. 2024
Making your own extract is a great way to get the most bang for your buck.
—Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 16 Apr. 2024
So, which Ivy gets you the most bang for your buck?
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 12 Apr. 2024
Her sandy blonde hair was pulled back as layered curtain bangs framed her face.
—Angel Saunders, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
For instance, with consumers and business clients now demanding exceptional and personalized service, CMOs can work with COOs to pinpoint where spending on the customer experience will offer the best bang for their buck and, inversely, where precious capital would be wasted.
—Lila MacLellan, Fortune, 1 Apr. 2024
To get the most bang for your buck, check nannies' references.
—Becky Batcha and Hiranmayi Srinivasan, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
Add visual interest with the casual geometric pattern from Novogratz's Umbria Rug or Nicole Miller's playful Danica Area Rug. Get the most bang for your buck with a reversible option, like Sixhome's Floral Rectangle Patio Rug or Nfeco's Leafy design.
—Wendy Vazquez, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Mar. 2024
To get the most bang for your exercise buck, your workout program should be weighted heavily in favor of these easy days.
—Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 6 Apr. 2024
Verb
Much like Smith observed at the zoo, the Royals’ fan base is banging at the door hoping for a winner.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 4 Apr. 2024
Using soft-action baitcasting rods and 8-pound abrasion-resistant line, troll between 1.5 and 2.5 mph in a lazy S pattern, alternately sweeping the open water over the channel and banging bottom on top of the drop with your lures.
—Don Wirth, Field & Stream, 4 Apr. 2024
But he was stranded when the Brewers banged into an inning-ending double-play.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
The meeting went on for two hours and 41 minutes, with board members interrupting and insulting one another and raising their voices to the point that the board vice president had to bang a gavel to stop the arguing.
—Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024
The performers joined forces to collectively bang a drum, dressed in traditional Osage attire, as the women sang.
—Tatiana Tenreyro, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024
Babies develop hand-eye coordination by banging, nesting, stacking, and rolling these cups around.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
In recent years, records show, inmates have died from jumping off railings, banging their heads against a wall and injecting drugs with makeshift needles — all in view of jail surveillance cameras that no one watched until later.
—Keri Blakinger, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
The 6-foot-6 defensive savant endures more physical punishment at center, banging bodies inside on box-outs.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bang.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near bang
Cite this Entry
“Bang.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bang. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bang
1 of 4 verb
: to beat, strike, or shut with a loud noise
bang
2 of 4 noun1
: a violent blow
2
: a sudden loud noise
3
a
: a quick burst of energy
start off with a bang
b
: a feeling of being thrilled or pleased
you'll get a bang out of this
bang
3 of 4 noun
: hair cut short across the forehead
—usually used in plural
bang
4 of 4 verb
: to cut (front hair) short and squarely across
Etymology
Verb
probably of Scandinavian origin
Noun
probably from earlier bangtail "a short tail (on a horse)"
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