Meaning & use
chime
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Meanings
nouncountable
A clear, ringing musical sound made by a bell or set of bells, or a device that makes it.
Grammar: Countable: a chime, wind chimes.
Patterns
- the chime of something
- a door chime
The chime of the church bells carried across the valley.
A soft chime told us the elevator had arrived.
We hung wind chimes on the porch.
verbtransitive or intransitive
To make a clear ringing sound, or to show the hour with such a sound.
Grammar: Usually no object: the clock chimed; with an object for the time: it chimed noon.
Patterns
- the clock chimes
- chime the hour
The clock chimed midnight as the guests left.
The doorbell chimed twice.
Her phone chimed with a new message.
verbphrasal verbinformal
To join a conversation with a comment, usually used with in.
Grammar: Chime in, with no object; often followed by with.
Patterns
- chime in with something
- chime in on something
Everyone chimed in with ideas for the party.
She chimed in just as the debate got heated.
Feel free to chime in if you disagree.
verbintransitive
To agree or be in harmony, usually followed by with.
Grammar: Followed by with: the plan chimes with her values.
Patterns
- chime with something
His views chime with those of many voters.
The new policy chimes with public opinion.
That chimes with what I heard.
Word forms
| plural | chimes |
|---|---|
| third person singular | chimes |
| past tense | chimed |
| past participle | chimed |
| -ing form | chiming |
Common combinations
- door chime
- The door chime rang as customers entered.
- wind chime
- The wind chime tinkled in the breeze.
- chime in
- He chimed in with a joke.
- chime with
- Her ideas chime with the company's goals.
- clock chimes
- The clock chimes every hour.
- chime of bells
- The chime of bells announced the wedding.
Synonyms and how they differ
- ring
- Ring is the general word for a bell sound, while chime suggests a clear, gentle, musical tone.
- peal
- Peal is louder and longer, often for church bells or laughter.
- toll
- Toll is a slow, solemn ring, often for death or time.
- interject
- Interject is more formal for interrupting with a remark, while chime in is friendlier.
Word family
- chimes noun
- a set of tuned bells or tubes
- chiming noun
- the sound of chimes
Commonly confused: chime or chimney?
chime vs chimney
A chimney carries smoke out of a building and has no link to bells.
Practice
We were discussing the schedule when Maria ___ with a suggestion.
Choose one answer.
Chime in is the phrasal verb meaning join a conversation. The other particles do not form this phrasal verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “chime”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.