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rings 1 of 4

noun (1)

plural of ring
1
as in gangs
a group involved in secret or criminal activities a ring of counterfeiters passing phony $20 bills

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

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3
as in circles
a group of people sharing a common interest and relating together socially a gaming ring that meets once a week to play

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

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rings

2 of 4

noun (2)

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

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rings

3 of 4

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of ring
1
as in surrounds
to form a circle around tall cypress trees ringing the park

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2
as in orbits
to travel completely around the line of season ticket buyers ringed the block

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rings

4 of 4

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of ring
as in chimes
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 rings
Noun
That changed in 2013, when a small, dark body orbiting between Saturn and Uranus passed in front of a star and blinked twice on either side of the main event, revealing two narrow rings around an object barely 250 kilometers across. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 19 Sep. 2026 Zendaya chose a glittering Prada gown bedecked in shimmering crystals with a plunging tulle neckline, along with Mikimoto jewelry, including lavish pearl-and-diamond earrings and two rings from the Petals collection. — Meg Walters, InStyle, 19 Sep. 2026 The silicone or rubber rings that make containers airtight are also where mold and bacteria hide. — Sarah Anzlovar, Verywell Health, 18 Sep. 2026 This rings back to the COVID-19 death debate on whether a person died from COVID-19 or while infected with COVID-19. — Sheldon H. Jacobson, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026 Hathaway accessorized with multiple rings and a black handbag. — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2026 Whether that rings true or not, know that this is a main character cake, worthy of its own show. — Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Sep. 2026 The movement’s tiny footprint became a catalyst for experimentation, giving Blancpain’s designers unusual freedom, resulting in Ladybird watches concealed within bracelets, cuffs, rings, and pendants. — Taylor Stoddard, Robb Report, 17 Sep. 2026 Doorbell rings, and Lisa sent food, sent baskets, sent gifts. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
Verb
Much like a tuning fork, the resonator also rings when struck. — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026 Well, that promise now rings hollow in the ears of every TSA worker today. — Hydrick Thomas, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026 That praise rings true more than a decade later thanks to joke after filthy joke, cameo after foul-mouthed cameo, scare after genuine scare. — Sara Netzley, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Sep. 2026 Norway’s new King Haakon VIII will be hoping that sentiment rings true following the death of his father, King Harald who died Friday after 35 years on the throne, marking the latest blow for a family reeling from scandal. — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 There are various reasons that rings true for professionals looking to become leaders. — Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026 But for anyone who remembers the subprime housing meltdown — which preceded the 2008 financial crisis and the Great Recession — turning real assets into complex securitized vehicles inevitably rings a few alarm bells. — Morgan Chittum, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026 The comeback saga rings ever so true for those in the movie theater industry, and for those millions of moviegoers who love to watch dazzling images on the huge silver screens of theaters. — Adam Aron, Variety, 29 July 2026 An old folk verse prices a simple life at two riyals for beans and one for bread — only half of that tune still rings true. — Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 29 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rings
  1. gangs
  2. loops
  3. circles
  4. orbs
  5. calls
  6. surrounds
  7. orbits
  8. chimes
Noun
  • By July of this year, gangs attacked Kenscoff again, pulling back only to organize an even bigger attack in late August.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The nonprofit God's Pantry in Pomona serves around 10,000 families monthly, while nearly all of its staff have overcome homelessness, addiction, gangs, or incarceration.
    — Rina Nakano, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of gangs
Noun
  • The blade of the knife rolls forward and backward, loops of green onion gathering in a pyramid beside my father’s wrist.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The organizations making real progress are tying AI outputs to specific business results and building feedback loops to catch when the outputs drift.
    — Matt Waxman, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of loops
Noun
  • That’s because the tight turns and circles could result in a crash if all helicopters remain in pursuit.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The lightweight cream disguises dark circles, redness, blemishes, and uneven tone, melting in seamlessly enough to blend across larger areas in place of foundation.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of circles
Noun
  • Props designer Sam Lancaster continues this motif by introducing several orbs in pivotal moments.
    — Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Considering that her designs—from the quirky and unmistakable totem collars to magic floating orbs and funky-fine rings—look like nothing else and immediately spark joy, Ashley Moubayed is keeping disco very much alive.
    — Madeline Hirsch, InStyle, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of orbs
Noun
  • South Korea shifted to a softer tone under current liberal President Lee Jae Myung, but North Korea has so far ignored Lee's calls to resume diplomacy.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Other lawmakers from early-primary states are fielding calls from 2028 contenders looking to appear with them.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of calls
Verb
  • Unlike FinFETs, where the gate surrounds the transistor channel on three sides, GAA designs wrap the gate around the channel, providing greater control over the flow of current, the South China Morning Post reported.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The newer, softer material surrounds the carbon fiber plate while the previous ZoomX formula is used for the rest of the midsole to balance out the stability.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of surrounds
Verb
  • Cancri e is a super-Earth that orbits its host star every 18 hours, and could be covered by a magma ocean.
    — Alix Freckelton, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026
  • The new definition of a planet, according to Nat Geo, is an object that orbits the Sun, is large enough to have become round (due to the force of its own gravity) and dominates the neighborhood around its orbit.
    — Victoria Edel, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of orbits
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
  • Galeotti explains that in a weaponized world, there is permanent chaos and constant battles, something that chimes with what is unfolding at the World Cup.
    — Simon Chadwick, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Definition of chimes

Phrases Containing rings

Browse Nearby Words

ring roads
rings
rings down the curtain (on)
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Cite this Entry

“Rings.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rings. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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