dials 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of dial
as in calls
to make a telephone call to dialed 911 and asked for the police

Synonyms & Similar Words

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dials

2 of 2

noun

plural of dial

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of dials
Verb
The show then dials back to February 22, 2019, another notorious day in the Murdaugh family dynasty. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 15 Oct. 2025 This CoComelon Halloween playlist dials down on the creepy elements of the Halloween season. Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 26 Sep. 2025 Barry, who worked in management at Magnolia Bakery for years, has developed a recipe for Banana Pudding that dials back the Southern-style sweetness to a more appealing West Coast level. Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 15 Sep. 2025 The novel dials up the danger for the group of amateur detectives when an old friend from Elizabeth's (played by Mirren in The Thursday Murder Club movie) spy days comes back from her past. Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025 As Matthew and Oliver slowly become enmeshed in an unexpected role-reversal of power, Lurker dials up the queasy tension while carefully exploring matters of manipulation, coercion, and the dark dangers of obsession. Michael Cuby, Them., 27 Aug. 2025 None of this would land without the heroic voice acting of Pamela Adlon, who subtly dials up his boyish vocal fry into the rasp of a grown man. Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 22 Aug. 2025 The 28-year-old actress dials her performance up in her first series regular role as Barclay. Malik Peay, Essence, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dials
Verb
  • Still in its early stages, Montgomery Steppe’s proposal calls for free medical care, including prescription drugs, to be provided to people who lose Medi-Cal benefits or face ineligibility under new rules for Medicaid.
    Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Trump calls Mamdani a communist and said the federal government can’t afford to throw good money after bad if he is elected.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Features turn out to be like volume knobs for concepts; turn them up and the model will talk about little else.
    James Somers, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Door Knobs & Handles Door knobs and handles are touched every day multiple times a day.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Its approach suggests that in the years since Ferrante first made her way into American readers’ hands, the status of feminist writing has seen a true shift.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2025
  • What Happens Next There will likely be long delays before SNAP benefits actually make it into the hands of beneficiaries again.
    Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Control buttons on the stand include the on-screen display joystick, the webcam kill switch, and the power button on the right edge, plus the monitor mode switch button on the left edge.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2025
  • Though pricey, it’s made with premium materials, like corozo buttons, which are biodegradable, plastic-free button alternatives that resemble ivory.
    Dory Zayas, Glamour, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The driver then phones the police, while arguing with officers at the scene.
    Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • One of the best indicators of when to stop mowing is soil temperature.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
  • Momentum indicators aren't screaming buy at current levels.
    Jay Woods, CNBC, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Wall Street cheered the data, with major indexes climbing to record highs.
    Benzinga, Freep.com, 25 Oct. 2025
  • The stock market rose Friday, with all three major indexes hitting fresh intraday record highs.
    Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Although the video began in black-and-white, when Alaina and Moeller pull the poppers, the video switches to color and reveals that the backdrop behind them features pink and blue flowers.
    Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Cheaper options or knock-offs tend to come with flimsy sockets, buzzing ballasts, or unreliable switches, which can make rooms look cheap or dated far sooner than expected and even create fire hazards.
    Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Dials.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dials. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

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