Definition

1. Noun:

   • A circular band of metal, wood, or other material: A ring is a small circular band, often worn as jewelry on a finger.
   • A circular shape, line, or arrangement: A ring can be any circular object, mark, or group of things or people.
   • The sound of a bell: A ring is the clear, resonant sound made by a bell or similar object.
   • A place for contests or exhibitions: A ring is a defined, often circular, area for sports like boxing or wrestling.
   • An organized group, often involved in illegal activity: A ring can refer to a group of people working together, especially for criminal purposes.

2. Verb:

   • To cause to make a clear, resonant sound: To ring means to cause a bell or similar object to sound.
   • To make a clear, resonant sound: To ring means to produce the sound of a bell.
   • To telephone someone: To ring someone means to call them on the telephone.
   • To form a circle around; to surround: To ring means to encircle something.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • She wore a beautiful gold ring on her finger.
  • The children sat in a ring around the teacher.
  • I heard the ring of the doorbell.
  • The boxers entered the ring.
  • The police broke up a smuggling ring.

• Verb:

  • Please ring the bell for service.
  • The church bells ring every Sunday morning.
  • I'll ring you tomorrow to discuss the plans.
  • Ancient walls ring the old city.

Advanced Usage

• "to ring true/false": To sound or seem genuine or false.
  • His apology didn't ring true.
• "to ring a bell": To sound familiar; to remind someone of something.
  • That name rings a bell, but I can't remember where I heard it.
• "to run rings around someone": To be much better, faster, or more effective than someone else.
  • The new employee runs rings around the older ones.

Variants and Related Words

• Ringing (adj/n): Making a clear resonant sound; the act or sound of something that rings.
  • He answered with a ringing voice.
  • The ringing in my ears was loud.
• Ringer (n): A person or device that rings something; a person who closely resembles another.
  • He's a dead ringer for his father.
• Ringlet (n): A long curl of hair.
  • Her hair fell in ringlets.

Synonyms

• Circle (n): A round shape or arrangement.
• Chime (v/n): To make a ringing sound; a ringing sound.
• Call (v): To telephone.
• Encircle (v): To form a circle around.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Ring off: To end a telephone call.
  • He rang off before I could ask my question.
• Ring up: To call someone on the telephone; to record a sale on a cash register.
  • Ring me up when you get home.
  • The cashier rang up the total.
• Ring out: To sound loudly and clearly.
  • Shouts of joy rang out across the stadium.

Related Idioms

• Throw one's hat in the ring: To announce one's candidacy or willingness to enter a contest.
  • Several candidates have thrown their hats in the ring for the election.
• Have a familiar ring: To sound like something one has heard before.
  • That story has a familiar ring to it.

Verb

1. attach a ring to the foot of, in order to identify
   • ring birds
   • band the geese to observe their migratory patterns
2. extend on all sides of simultaneously; encircle
   • The forest surrounds my property
3. get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone
   • I tried to call you all night
   • Take two aspirin and call me in the morning
4. make (bells) ring, often for the purposes of musical edification
   • Ring the bells
   • My uncle rings every Sunday at the local church
5. ring or echo with sound
   • the hall resounded with laughter
6. sound loudly and sonorously
   • the bells rang

Noun

1. a strip of material attached to the leg of a bird to identify it (as in studies of bird migration)
2. jewelry consisting of a circlet of precious metal (often set with jewels) worn on the finger
   • she had rings on every finger
   • he noted that she wore a wedding band
3. a platform usually marked off by ropes in which contestants box or wrestle
4. the sound of a bell ringing
   • the distinctive ring of the church bell
   • the ringing of the telephone
   • the tintinnabulation that so voluminously swells from the ringing and the dinging of the bells--E. A. Poe
5. an association of criminals
   • police tried to break up the gang
   • a pack of thieves
6. (chemistry) a chain of atoms in a molecule that forms a closed loop
7. a rigid circular band of metal or wood or other material used for holding or fastening or hanging or pulling
   • there was still a rusty iron hoop for tying a horse
8. a toroidal shape
   • a ring of ships in the harbor
   • a halo of smoke
9. a characteristic sound
   • it has the ring of sincerity