ring 1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈriŋ How to pronounce ring (audio)
Definition of ringnext
1
as in Mafia
a group involved in secret or criminal activities a ring of counterfeiters passing phony $20 bills

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in loop
a circular strip a metal ring encircled the barrel

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in circle
a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially a gaming ring that meets once a week to play

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in round
something with a perfectly round circumference the coffee cup left a ring on the table

Synonyms & Similar Words

ring

2 of 4

noun (2)

as in call
a communication by telephone give me a ring when you're ready to go

Synonyms & Similar Words

ring

3 of 4

verb (1)

1
as in to surround
to form a circle around tall cypress trees ringing the park

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to circle
to travel completely around the line of season ticket buyers ringed the block

Synonyms & Similar Words

ring

4 of 4

verb (2)

as in to chime
to make the clear sound heard when metal vibrates I didn't hear the doorbell ring

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 ring
Noun
In a nod to sporting tradition in the United States, each player will be given a bespoke ring which will be custom-fitted and awarded to the players at a later date. — Ben Church, CNN Money, 17 July 2026 In a review of tap-to-pay cases across the country, CNBC found a mix of low-level opportunists and organized crime rings. — Gabrielle Fonrouge,scott Zamost,anna Gleason, CNBC, 17 July 2026
Verb
Even Kerameikos, the ancient necropolis Thucydides called the city’s most beautiful quarter, comes ringed not with tour buses but with the kind of neighborhood tables—Osteria Mamma, Proveleggios—that locals keep to themselves. — Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026 The vanilla and chocolate notes should ring true to those flavors, without being artificial or dominated by sugar. — Karla Walsh, Southern Living, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for ring
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ring
  1. Mafia
  2. loop
  3. circle
  4. round
  5. call
  6. surround
  7. orbit
  8. chime
Noun
  • The series follows the Black Mafia Family in Detroit and is based on a true story.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 16 Aug. 2025
  • On the surface, the crime drama follows the rise and fall of the Black Mafia Family — one of the most influential crime families in the country.
    — Kayla Grant, People.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Definition of Mafia
Noun
  • The feature is also available as an in-browser weathercast, where users can select a location and view local and regional weather data on a loop, rather than clicking through it — true to the television form.
    — Savannah Sicurella, AJC.com, 21 July 2026
  • This risks amplifying stereotypes through personalization, creating a feedback loop where AI's initial assumptions are reinforced.
    — Christine Michel Carter, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
Definition of loop
Noun
  • Overall, the address was taken seriously in partisan pro-Trump media circles, while it was treated skeptically everywhere else.
    — Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
  • New friends bring new drama; from the glitzy beaches of Palm Beach to the private dunes of the Hamptons, the ladies expand their exclusive social circle, bringing in new hijinks, posh parties, and so much more.
    — Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 16 July 2026
Definition of circle
Noun
  • Scottie Scheffler finished the second round of The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale four shots behind leader Lucas Herbert, with an uncharacteristically cold putter preventing him from climbing closer to the top of the leaderboard.
    — Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 18 July 2026
  • Rookie first-round draft pick Alex Karaban scored 14 points for the Kings.
    — Jason Anderson, Sacbee.com, 18 July 2026
Definition of round
Noun
  • The call led to a massive local, state and federal law enforcement presence racing up the one-lane road to the campsite, located 2,000 feet up in rough terrain in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest, authorities said.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 18 July 2026
  • The same day, Smith, who had said during the Zoom call that the family should not be contacted in writing, called Swinehart.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
Definition of call
Verb
  • Bone must be separated from surrounding rock millimeter by millimeter with a pneumatic chisel, whose needle gently breaks away rock while ultraviolet light reveals where the bone ends and the surrounding rock begins.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026
  • The real estate firm looks at office markets in Charlotte and the surrounding suburbs.
    — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 22 July 2026
Definition of surround
Verb
  • Lewis explained that all these data centers and mirrors would have to orbit Earth in the same orbital plane to have access to constant sunshine.
    — Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 20 July 2026
  • The fact that celebrity landed upon him, plucking him from the obscurity of his mission to represent the burgeoning discourse on the disease, says more about the world that orbited him than his actions on the island or his own political nous.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
Definition of orbit
Verb
  • That chimes with the European Central Bank's ambition of a single banking jurisdiction, with capital and liquidity able to move freely within cross-border groups and depositors enjoying equal protection.
    — Hugh Leask, CNBC, 16 July 2026
  • Sunlight chimed off Rubber Hand’s hatchet blade.
    — Will Mackin, New Yorker, 28 June 2026
Definition of chime

Phrases Containing ring

Browse Nearby Words

rims
ring
ring down the curtain (on)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ring. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on ring

Nglish: Translation of ring for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ring

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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of itinerant

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?
See More

Popular

See More

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
thumbnail graphic with text word of the day quiz
Weekly "Word of the Day" Quiz See how well you know each Word of the Day for Ju...
See All