Meaning & use
ring
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Meanings
nouncountable
A small circular band, typically of metal, worn on a finger or used as a fastening or symbol.
Grammar: Countable: a ring, two rings. Often used with 'wear', 'put on', 'take off'.
Patterns
- a ring on someone's finger
- wear a ring
- put on a ring
She wears a gold ring on her ring finger.
He gave her a diamond ring for their anniversary.
The key ring has a small silver ring.
nouncountable
A clear, resonant sound, as of a bell.
Grammar: Countable: a ring, the ring of a bell.
Patterns
- the ring of a bell
- a ring at the door
The ring of the telephone broke the silence.
I heard a ring at the doorbell.
There was a loud ring from the church bells.
nouncountable
A circular area or object, such as a boxing arena or a group of people.
Grammar: Countable: a ring, the rings. Often used with 'in the ring' for boxing.
Patterns
- in the ring
- a ring of people
- a ring of trees
The boxers stepped into the ring.
They sat in a ring around the fire.
A ring of mountains surrounds the valley.
verbintransitive
To make a clear, resonant sound, as a bell does.
Grammar: No object; often used with 'ring' + adverb or preposition: ring loudly, ring for someone.
Patterns
- ring loudly
- ring for someone
- the phone rings
The alarm clock rings at seven every morning.
The phone rang twice before she answered.
The bell rang for the end of class.
verbtransitive or intransitiveBritish
To call someone on the telephone (British).
Grammar: In British English, you ring someone; in American English, you usually call someone.
Patterns
- ring someone
- ring a number
I'll ring you tomorrow.
She rang the office to say she was sick.
Ring me when you get home.
Word forms
| plural | rings |
|---|---|
| third person singular | rings |
| past tense | rang |
| past participle | rung |
| present participle | ringing |
Common combinations
- wedding ring
- She wore a simple gold wedding ring.
- engagement ring
- He bought an engagement ring before proposing.
- key ring
- He keeps his keys on a key ring.
- ring a bell
- The name rings a bell, but I can't remember where I heard it.
- give someone a ring
- Give me a ring when you arrive.
- in the ring
- The champion stepped into the ring.
Synonyms and how they differ
- band
- Band is a general word for a thin flat strip or loop; ring is more specific, often a circular metal band worn on a finger.
- circle
- Circle is a round shape; ring is a circular band or loop, often with a hole in the middle.
- call
- Call is the usual American word for telephoning; ring is the usual British word.
- chime
- Chime suggests a musical, bell-like sound; ring is a more general clear sound.
Word family
Commonly confused: ring or wring?
ring vs wring
Wring means to twist and squeeze something, like a wet cloth. Ring means a circular band or a sound. They sound the same but have different meanings and spellings.
Practice
Choose the correct word: She put a beautiful diamond ___ on her finger.
Choose one answer.
The sentence needs a noun for the object on her finger, so 'ring' is correct. 'Wring' is a verb meaning to twist and squeeze. 'Ringing' is the present participle and does not fit after 'a diamond'. 'Rang' is the past tense of the verb and cannot be used as a noun.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “ring”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.