ring
1 of 4noun (1)
ˈriŋ 
1
: a circular band for holding, connecting, hanging, pulling, packing, or sealing
a key ring
a towel ring
2
: a circlet usually of precious metal worn especially on the finger
3
a
: a circular line, figure, or object
smoke ring
b
: an encircling arrangement
a ring of suburbs
c
: a circular or spiral course —often used figuratively in plural in the phrase run rings around to describe surpassing an opponent decisively
4
a(1)
: an often circular space especially for exhibitions or competitions
especially : such a space at a circus
(2)
: a structure containing such a ring
b
: a usually square enclosure in which a fighting contest (such as a boxing or wrestling match) takes place
5
: a band of small objects revolving around a planet (such as Saturn) and composed of dust and icy or rocky fragments
6
: annual ring
7
a
: an exclusive combination of persons for a selfish and often corrupt purpose (as to control a market)
a wheat ring
b
: gang
8
: the field of a political contest : race
9
: food in the shape of a circle
10
: an arrangement of atoms represented in formulas or models in a cyclic manner
called also cycle
11
: a set of mathematical elements that is closed under two binary operations of which the first forms a commutative group with the set and the second is associative over the set and is distributive with respect to the first operation
12
rings plural
a
: a pair of usually rubber-covered metal rings suspended from a ceiling or crossbar to a height of approximately eight feet above the floor and used for hanging, swinging, and balancing feats in gymnastics
b
: an event in gymnastics competition in which the rings are used
13
: boxing entry 1
ended his ring career
ringlike
ˈriŋ-līk
adjective ring
2 of 4verb (1)
ringed; ringing ˈriŋ-iŋ
transitive verb
1
: to provide with a ring
2
: to place or form a ring around : encircle
police ringed the building
3
: girdle sense 2
4
: to throw a ringer over (the peg) in a game (such as horseshoes or quoits)
intransitive verb
1
a
: to move in a ring
b
: to rise in the air spirally
2
: to form or take the shape of a ring
ring
3 of 4verb (2)
rang ˈraŋ ; rung ˈrəŋ ; ringing ˈriŋ-iŋ
; rung ˈrəŋ ; ringing ˈriŋ-iŋ intransitive verb
1
: to sound resonantly or sonorously
the doorbell rang
cheers rang out
2
a
: to be filled with a reverberating sound : resound
the halls rang with laughter
b
: to have the sensation of being filled with a humming sound
his ears rang
3
: to cause something to ring
ring for the butler
4
a
: to be filled with talk or report
the whole land rang with her fame
b
: to have great renown
c
: to sound repetitiously
their praise rang in his ears
5
: to have a sound or character expressive of some quality
a story that rings true
6
chiefly British : to make a telephone call —usually used with up
transitive verb
1
: to cause to sound especially by striking
2
: to make (a sound) by or as if by ringing a bell
3
: to announce by or as if by ringing
4
: to repeat often, loudly, or earnestly
5
a
: to summon especially by bell
b
chiefly British : telephone —usually used with up
ring
4 of 4noun (2)
1
: a set of bells
2
: a clear resonant sound made by or resembling that made by vibrating metal
3
: resonant tone : sonority
4
: a loud sound continued, repeated, or reverberated
5
: a sound or character expressive of some particular quality
the story had a familiar ring
6
a
: the act or an instance of ringing
b
: a telephone call
Synonyms
Noun (1)
- cabal
- conspiracy
- crew
- gang
- Mafia
- mob
- syndicate
Verb (1)
- circle
- compass
- embrace
- encircle
- enclose
- inclose
- encompass
- environ
- gird
- girdle
- surround
- wreathe
Verb (2)
- bong
- chime
- knell
- peal
- toll
Noun (2)
- buzz
- call
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Harper's BAZAAR, 7 Feb. 2023 Forests ring a valley where mission churches still stand. —Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Jan. 2023 Iowa's Lukas Van Ness is a talented prospect, and the Texans have fared well drafting Big Ten defensive linemen in the past (J.J. Watt might ring a bell). —Josh Criswell, Chron, 26 Jan. 2023 For those who enjoy Carroll County history, however, Joe’s name might ring a different bell, that of important local historian. —Mary Ann Ashcraft, Baltimore Sun, 22 Jan. 2023 For example, Buddhist temples ring their bells to welcome the new year, and people hang Shinto straw ropes – shimenawa in Japanese – around their homes to keep good fortune in and bad luck out. —Megan Bryson, The Conversation, 4 Jan. 2023 Each October, in the early hours of some mid-month morning, Don DeLillo’s landline should ring. —Josh Zajdman, Town & Country, 30 Dec. 2022 And Christmas bells can ring not so loudly and inspiringly. —Arkansas Online, 26 Dec. 2022 Gallup and other towns that ring the Navajo Nation have a history of bias and exploitation. —Bryant Furlow, ProPublica, 21 Dec. 2022 Michael B. Jordan’s Got Two Jobs, Vulture, 15 Feb. 2023 Both players already have a Super Bowl ring – Jason with the Eagles after the 2017 season and Travis with the Chiefs following the 2019 campaign. —Safid Deen, USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2023 Former federal prosecutor Mark Chutkow recalled handling numerous difficult cases before Roberts, including a Ukranian human trafficking ring, a large oil spill in the Rouge River and a bribery kickback scheme at Detroit Metro Airport. —Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 6 Feb. 2023 The United States maintains a ring of steel — military bases, aircraft carriers, frequent maritime exercises — around much of what China believes are its exclusive territorial waters. —Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2023 In addition to the necklace, the line also includes a ring and earrings (with and without diamonds). —Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 3 Feb. 2023 The Roz ring, this author’s favorite, offers a single stone sunk in a hammered frame. —Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 31 Jan. 2023 The ghost ring, which Jeff Cooper loved and promoted, is nothing more than a peep sight with an oversized aperture. —David E. Petzal, Field & Stream, 30 Jan. 2023 Birth control containing estrogen, like the combination pill, ring, and patch, slightly increases a person’s risk for blood clots. —Claire Gillespie, SELF, 27 Jan. 2023 See More
Verb
Securing the swathes of fabric to drape off her didn’t ring like a Coperni (or McQueen) knock-off, though inspiration is more than a little likely. —Harper's BAZAAR, 7 Feb. 2023 Forests ring a valley where mission churches still stand. —Sarah Matusek, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Jan. 2023 Iowa's Lukas Van Ness is a talented prospect, and the Texans have fared well drafting Big Ten defensive linemen in the past (J.J. Watt might ring a bell). —Josh Criswell, Chron, 26 Jan. 2023 For those who enjoy Carroll County history, however, Joe’s name might ring a different bell, that of important local historian. —Mary Ann Ashcraft, Baltimore Sun, 22 Jan. 2023 For example, Buddhist temples ring their bells to welcome the new year, and people hang Shinto straw ropes – shimenawa in Japanese – around their homes to keep good fortune in and bad luck out. —Megan Bryson, The Conversation, 4 Jan. 2023 Each October, in the early hours of some mid-month morning, Don DeLillo’s landline should ring. —Josh Zajdman, Town & Country, 30 Dec. 2022 And Christmas bells can ring not so loudly and inspiringly. —Arkansas Online, 26 Dec. 2022 Gallup and other towns that ring the Navajo Nation have a history of bias and exploitation. —Bryant Furlow, ProPublica, 21 Dec. 2022 Noun
Well, for one, Jordan and Majors will fight in a boxing ring — a sweaty spectacle that’ll be enough to get most people’s butts in seats. —Michael B. Jordan’s Got Two Jobs, Vulture, 15 Feb. 2023 Both players already have a Super Bowl ring – Jason with the Eagles after the 2017 season and Travis with the Chiefs following the 2019 campaign. —Safid Deen, USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2023 Former federal prosecutor Mark Chutkow recalled handling numerous difficult cases before Roberts, including a Ukranian human trafficking ring, a large oil spill in the Rouge River and a bribery kickback scheme at Detroit Metro Airport. —Tresa Baldas, Detroit Free Press, 6 Feb. 2023 The United States maintains a ring of steel — military bases, aircraft carriers, frequent maritime exercises — around much of what China believes are its exclusive territorial waters. —Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2023 In addition to the necklace, the line also includes a ring and earrings (with and without diamonds). —Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 3 Feb. 2023 The Roz ring, this author’s favorite, offers a single stone sunk in a hammered frame. —Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 31 Jan. 2023 The ghost ring, which Jeff Cooper loved and promoted, is nothing more than a peep sight with an oversized aperture. —David E. Petzal, Field & Stream, 30 Jan. 2023 Birth control containing estrogen, like the combination pill, ring, and patch, slightly increases a person’s risk for blood clots. —Claire Gillespie, SELF, 27 Jan. 2023 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English, going back to Old English hring (masculine strong noun), going back to Germanic *hrenga- (whence also Old Frisian hring, ring "ring," Old Saxon hring "chain mail," Old High German ring, rinh "ring," Old Icelandic hringr), going back to dialectal Indo-European *krengho-, *krongho-, whence also Old Church Slavic krǫgŭ "circle, ring," Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian krûg, Polish krąg
Note: The only certain attestations of this etymon are in Germanic and Slavic. As it violates an Indo-European root structure constraint on co-occurrence of a voiceless stop and a voiced aspirate stop, the etymon is presumably late or post-Indo-European, or borrowed from an unknown source.
Verb (1)
Middle English ringen, derivative of ring ring entry 1
Verb (2)
Middle English, from Old English hringan; akin to Old Norse hringja to ring
First Known Use
Noun (1)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb (1)
15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Verb (2)
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun (2)
1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing ring
Kids Definition
ring
1 of 4 noun ˈriŋ
1
: a circular band for holding, connecting, hanging, or pulling or for packing or sealing
a key ring
a towel ring
2
: a circular band usually of precious metal worn on the finger
3
: something circular in shape
smoke rings
4
: an often circular space for shows and contests
a circus ring
a boxing ring
5
: annual ring
6
: a group of persons involved in selfish or dishonest activities
a ring of thieves
7
plural : a pair of rings suspended from above and used for hanging, swinging, and balancing tricks in gymnastics
ringed adjective
ˈriŋd
ringlike
ˈriŋ-ˌlīk
adjective ring
2 of 4 verb ringed; ringing ˈriŋ-iŋ
1
: to place or form a ring around : encircle
2
: to provide with a ring
3
: to throw a ringer over (the peg) in a game (as horseshoes)
4
: to form or take the shape of a ring
ring
3 of 4 verb rang ˈraŋ ; rung ˈrəŋ ; ringing ˈriŋ-iŋ
; rung ˈrəŋ ; ringing ˈriŋ-iŋ 1
: to make a clear and vibrating sound when struck
church bells ringing
2
: to cause to sound especially by striking
rang the bell
3
: to announce by or as if by ringing
ring an alarm
ring in the new year
4
: to sound loudly
cheers rang out
5
a
: to be filled with echoing sound : resound
the whole hall rang with their cheers
b
: to have the feeling of being filled with a humming sound
his ears were ringing
6
: to be filled with talk or news
the whole town rang with news of the victory
7
: to seem to have some particular quality
her story rings true
8
a
: to call for especially by bell
ring for the servants
b
chiefly British : to call on the telephone
will ring you up tomorrow
ring
4 of 4 noun1
: a set of bells
2
: a clear sound made by or as if by vibrating metal
3
: a tone like that of a bell
4
: a continuous or repeating loud noise
5
: something that suggests a certain quality
a story with the ring of truth
6
a
: the act or an instance of ringing
b
: a telephone call
Medical Definition
ring
1 of 2 noun ˈriŋ
1
a
: a circular band
b
: an anatomical structure having a circular opening : annulus
2
: an arrangement of atoms represented in formulas or models in a cyclic manner as a closed chain
called also cycle
ring
2 of 2 intransitive verb rang ˈraŋ ; rung ˈrəŋ ; ringing ˈriŋ-iŋ
; rung ˈrəŋ ; ringing ˈriŋ-iŋ : to have the sensation of being filled with a humming sound
his ears rang
rings 1 of 4
noun (1)
1
as in gangs
a group involved in secret or criminal activities a ring of counterfeiters passing phony $20 bills Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- gangs
- networks
- conspiracies
- Mafias
- syndicates
- circles
- crews
- clans
- cabals
- mobs
- cliques
- sets
- bunches
- covens
- packs
- crowds
- coteries
- galères
- lots
- juntas
- oligarchies
2
as in loops
a circular strip a metal ring encircled the barrel Synonyms & Similar Words
- loops
- hoops
- belts
- bands
- circles
- wreaths
- rounds
- coils
- collars
- eyes
- girdles
- spirals
- curls
- whorls
- cinctures
- spires
- beckets
- twirls
- furls
- annulets
- hanks
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- circles
- networks
- packs
- communities
- bunches
- crowds
- folds
- cliques
- sets
- gangs
- covens
- clans
- bodies
- organizations
- coteries
- clubs
- galères
- lots
- communes
- klatches
- societies
- klatsches
- guilds
- tribes
- gilds
- squads
- sides
- brotherhoods
- fraternities
- factions
- elites
- camps
- leagues
- charmed circles
- colleges
- closed shops
- blocs
- coalitions
- fellowships
- sisterhoods
- sects
- federations
- sororities
- unions
- in-groups
- alliances
- messes
- sodalities
- orders
- councils
- confederations
- congresses
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- loners
- individualists
4
as in orbs
something with a perfectly round circumference the coffee cup left a ring on the table Synonyms & Similar Words
- circles
- orbs
- rounds
- circlets
- loops
- roundels
- balls
- cirques
- ringlets
- ovals
- spheres
- ellipses
- globes
rings
2 of 4noun (2)
as in calls
a communication by telephone give me a ring when you're ready to go Synonyms & Similar Words
- calls
- messages
- buzzes
- toll calls
- conference calls
- callbacks
- voice mails
- cold calls
rings
3 of 4verb (1)
1
as in surrounds
to form a circle around tall cypress trees ringing the park Synonyms & Similar Words
- surrounds
- circles
- encircles
- girdles
- wreathes
- encompasses
- encloses
- walls
- girds
- environs
- compasses
- embraces
- incloses
- circumscribes
- closes in
- cordons (off)
- swarms
- intrenches
- besieges
- hems (in)
- besets
- fences (in)
- entrenches
- invests
2
as in orbits
to travel completely around the line of season ticket buyers ringed the block Synonyms & Similar Words
- circles
- orbits
- encircles
- traverses
- circuits
- crosses
- rounds
- girdles
- compasses
- circumnavigates
- circumvents
- circumambulates
- perambulates
rings
4 of 4verb (2)
as in chimes
to make the clear sound heard when metal vibrates I didn't hear the doorbell ring Synonyms & Similar Words
- chimes
- jingles
- peals
- tolls
- echoes
- bongs
- clinks
- knells
- gongs
- clangs
- resonates
- tinkles
- clashes
- pings
- clanks
- dings
- jangles
- chinks
- tangs
- ding-dongs
- plunks
- reverberates
- plinks
- resounds
- tingles
- plonks