Meaning & use
clinking
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“clinking” is a form of “clink”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive or intransitive
Making a short, light, ringing sound as glass or metal objects gently touch.
Grammar: Used with an object when you cause the sound: clinking glasses; without one when things ring: coins were clinking.
Patterns
- clinking something together
- clinking against something
The guests were clinking glasses to toast the new couple.
Coins were clinking in his pocket as he walked.
Spoons kept clinking against the bowls in the busy cafe.
adjectivebefore a noun
Producing a light ringing sound, or describing that sound.
Grammar: Used before a noun: the clinking glasses.
The clinking glasses filled the dining room with a cheerful sound.
She woke up to the clinking keys in the hallway.
A clinking noise came from the kitchen where the dishes were stacked.
noununcountable
The sound itself, a series of light ringing noises from glass or metal.
Grammar: Usually uncountable and often with of: the clinking of glasses.
Patterns
- the clinking of something
The clinking of ice in the glass was the only sound in the room.
We fell asleep to the soft clinking of the sailboat's ropes.
The clinking of cutlery rose above the quiet talk.
Common combinations
- clinking glasses
- They toasted the winners by clinking glasses.
- the clinking of ice
- The clinking of ice cubes made her thirsty.
- clinking coins
- He counted the clinking coins on the table.
- clinking cutlery
- Clinking cutlery filled the restaurant.
- clinking bottles
- The delivery man arrived with clinking bottles in a crate.
Synonyms and how they differ
- tinkling
- Tinkling is higher and lighter, like small bells, while clinking is shorter and often from glass touching glass.
- jingling
- Jingling describes a longer, more musical sound, like keys or bells, where clinking is a single sharp ring.
- clanking
- Clanking is heavier and duller and suggests large pieces of metal, whereas clinking is light and gentle.
- chinking
- Chinking is an older variant of the same sound and is much less common today.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: clinking or clanking? clinking or blinking?
clinking vs clanking
Clanking is a heavy, dull metal sound, while clinking is lighter and sharper.
clinking vs blinking
Blinking means opening and closing the eyes, and only the first letter differs from clinking.
Practice
The waiter walked past with a tray of ____ glasses, and everyone turned to look.
Choose one answer.
Clinking glasses make a light ringing sound when they touch. Clanking is too heavy for glass, and blinking and clicking describe other actions.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “clinking”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.