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Meaning & use

dialling

noun, verb·EverydayBritish

Last updated

UK/ˈdaɪəlɪŋ/
US/ˈdaɪəlɪŋ/

“dialling” is a form of “dial”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.

Meanings

  1. noununcountableBritish

    The act of pressing numbers on a phone to make a call.

    Grammar: No plural and no article needed: dialling is easy on this phone.

    Patterns

    • dialling a number
    • dialling a phone number
    • do the dialling

    Dialling a long number on this old phone takes ages.

    She was still dialling when the bus arrived.

    He heard the sound of dialling in the next room.

  2. noununcountableBritishtechnical

    The way a phone or device is set to make calls, or the codes used for this.

    Grammar: Often used before another noun, as in dialling code or dialling tone.

    Patterns

    • dialling code
    • dialling tone
    • international dialling

    What is the dialling code for Spain?

    I picked up the phone but there was no dialling tone.

    The dialling settings on the new phone are easy to change.

  3. verbintransitiveBritish

    Present participle of dial: pressing numbers to make a phone call.

    Grammar: British spelling of the -ing form; American English uses dialing.

    Patterns

    • be dialling a number
    • be dialling for something

    I was dialling your number when you walked in.

    He is dialling the wrong area code again.

    They were dialling for a taxi when the rain started.

Word forms

base form (US spelling: dialing)dial
past tense (US: dialed)dialled
past participle (US: dialed)dialled
third person singulardials

Common combinations

dialling code
The dialling code for France begins with 0033.
dialling tone
Wait for the dialling tone before you press the numbers.
international dialling
International dialling can be expensive from a hotel.
dialling a number
Dialling a number with a wet hand is not a good idea.
the sound of dialling
All she could hear was the sound of dialling.

Synonyms and how they differ

calling
Focuses on the whole act of phoning someone, while dialling refers only to pressing the numbers.
phoning
A more general everyday word for making a call; dialling is the specific first step.
ringing
Common in British English for making a call, but it can also mean the sound a phone makes.

Word family

dial verb
to press numbers on a phone to make a call
dial noun
the round part on an old phone or a device that you turn
dialler noun
British spelling of a device or program that makes calls automatically

Commonly confused: dialling or dialing? dialling or dualling?

dialling vs dialing

The American spelling with one l. Both are correct, but keep to one style in a piece of writing.

dialling vs dualling

Sounds similar but means making a road into two lanes; it comes from dual, not dial.

Practice

Which sentence uses the British spelling correctly?

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