ding: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal
Quick answer
What does “ding” mean?
To make a short, sharp, metallic ringing sound.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To make a short, sharp, metallic ringing sound.
To damage or dent something; to criticize or penalize someone; to persistently pester or annoy.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The 'damage/dent' sense is more common in American English, especially regarding cars. The 'penalize/fine' sense is strongly associated with American traffic enforcement. The 'pester' sense appears in both but is not highly frequent.
Connotations
In both varieties, the sound sense is neutral. The 'damage' sense is negative but often minor (a small dent). The 'penalize' sense carries a bureaucratic, impersonal negativity.
Frequency
Overall low frequency. The sound sense is the most universal. The 'penalize' sense is recognizably American.
Grammar
How to Use “ding” in a Sentence
[NP] dings (intransitive)[NP] dings [NP] (transitive)[NP] got dinged (passive)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ding” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The timer will ding when it's ready.
- I'm afraid I've dinged your bicycle.
- He's always dinging on about politics.
American English
- The elevator dinged for my floor.
- A shopping cart dinged my door in the car park.
- The police dinged me with a $100 fine.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard)
American English
- (Not standard)
adjective
British English
- (Rare as adjective) It was a ding-dong battle all the way to the end.
American English
- (Rare as adjective) The car has a few ding-and-dent issues.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Informal: 'The new policy will ding our quarterly profits.'
Academic
Rare, except in onomatopoeic linguistic studies.
Everyday
Sound: 'The microwave went ding.' Damage: 'I dinged the rental car.'
Technical
In automotive repair (US): 'The panel has a minor ding.'
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ding”
- Using 'ding' for a loud, deep sound (use 'clang' or 'gong').
- Overusing the 'penalize' sense in non-American contexts.
- Confusing 'ding' (sound/dent) with 'dinghy' (small boat).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'ding' is primarily informal. Its core sound meaning is neutral but simple; its extended meanings (damage, penalize, pester) are casual or slang.
As nouns, both can mean a small hollow in a surface. 'Ding' often implies a smaller, shallower, or more minor imperfection than 'dent', and is more informal. As verbs, 'to ding' something often means to cause a minor dent.
Yes, commonly. It can refer to the sound itself ('the ding of a bell') or a minor dent or damage ('There's a ding on the bumper').
It imitates the sound of a bell ringing alternately. Idiomatically, it describes a lively, noisy argument or fight ('a real ding-dong in parliament'). It is also British slang for a fool (archaic).
To make a short, sharp, metallic ringing sound.
Ding: in British English it is pronounced /dɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “ding-dong (argument/fight)”
- “ding-dong bell”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the sound a small bell makes: 'DING!' That's the core. A small dent in metal might make that sound, hence 'to ding a car'.
Conceptual Metaphor
PENALTY IS A PHYSICAL BLOW ('The ticket dinged my wallet'). ANNOYANCE IS REPETITIVE SOUND ('He kept dinging on about it').
Practice
Quiz
In American informal usage, what does it mean if a driver 'got dinged'?