Meaning & use
beepings
Last updated
“beepings” is a form of “beeping”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounplural
Several separate short high electronic sounds made by machines.
Grammar: Always plural; the singular 'beeping' is far more common, so use this form only when you mean clearly separate sounds.
Patterns
- the beepings of something
- a series of beepings
- faint beepings
The beepings from the control panel came faster and faster.
She counted the beepings and knew the machine had finished.
Faint beepings drifted in from the lab next door all night.
Word forms
| singular | beeping |
|---|
Common combinations
- a series of beepings
- A series of beepings told us the test was complete.
- the beepings from a machine
- The beepings from the machine stopped when the power went out.
- faint beepings
- We heard faint beepings from the other side of the wall.
Synonyms and how they differ
- beeps
- Beeps is the ordinary plural of the single sound and is much more common than 'beepings'.
Word family
Commonly confused: beepings or beeps?
beepings vs beeps
'Beeps' means several single short sounds and is the normal choice; 'beepings' treats each burst of sound as a separate event and sounds unusual.
Practice
Which sentence sounds most natural?
Choose one answer.
For counting separate short sounds, English uses 'beeps'. 'Beepings' is possible but rare and sounds odd when you are simply counting sounds.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “beepings”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.