gong: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to formal for the instrument; informal/slang for the medal meaning.
Quick answer
What does “gong” mean?
A large, flat, circular metal percussion instrument that produces a resonant, deep sound when struck with a padded mallet.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, flat, circular metal percussion instrument that produces a resonant, deep sound when struck with a padded mallet.
1. A bell or similar signaling device, often used to mark the start or end of an event (e.g., a dinner gong). 2. (British slang) A medal or award, especially a military one. 3. (Verb) To sound a gong; to signal or announce with a gong.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The slang meaning 'medal' (e.g., 'He got a gong for bravery') is almost exclusively British. The word for the instrument is identical in both varieties.
Connotations
In British English, the slang use carries a tone of casual respect or mild irony. In American English, the word is almost solely associated with the instrument or a dinner bell.
Frequency
The instrument meaning has low-medium frequency in both. The slang meaning has moderate frequency in UK informal contexts and is very rare in US English.
Grammar
How to Use “gong” in a Sentence
[Subject] + gong + [Object] (verb)the gong of + [Event] (noun)awarded a gong (noun, slang)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gong” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The butler will gong for dinner at eight.
- His terrible joke was met with silence, and he felt metaphorically gonged.
American English
- The mediator gonged to start the session.
- In the old show, they would gong off bad acts.
adverb
British English
- N/A (not standard).
American English
- N/A (not standard).
adjective
British English
- N/A (not standard).
American English
- N/A (not standard).
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Metaphorically for signaling a major shift or announcement ('The merger was announced with a virtual gong').
Academic
In ethnomusicology or studies of Asian culture.
Everyday
Referring to a dinner bell or a meditation/sound therapy instrument.
Technical
In music (percussion), metallurgy, or sound engineering.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gong”
- Using 'gong' as a general term for any bell. Confusing 'gong' (flat disc) with 'bell' (cup-shaped). Incorrectly using the slang 'medal' meaning in American contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its primary meaning is a percussion instrument, it can also mean a bell used for signaling (e.g., a dinner gong) and, in British informal use, a medal or award.
Yes. As a verb, it means to sound a gong or to signal with a gong (e.g., 'to gong the start of a round'). It can also mean to dismiss or reject something noisily, echoing the use of a gong in old talent shows.
A gong is typically a flat, circular metal disc that vibrates in a complex way when struck, producing a sound with a shimmering decay. A bell is usually cup-shaped with a clapper inside and produces a more defined pitch.
Not inherently. It's informal and can be used with respect or with mild irony, depending on context. It's best used in casual settings rather than formal citations.
A large, flat, circular metal percussion instrument that produces a resonant, deep sound when struck with a padded mallet.
Gong is usually neutral to formal for the instrument; informal/slang for the medal meaning. in register.
Gong: in British English it is pronounced /ɡɒŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡɔːŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “gong show (chaotic event, orig. AmE)”
- “to be gonged (to have a performance ended by a gong, esp. in old talent shows)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the long, resonant sound 'GOOOOONG' filling the room after the mallet hits.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SIGNAL FOR TRANSITION (the gong marks the shift from one state to another: work to dinner, silence to sound, peace to alarm).
Practice
Quiz
In which variety of English can 'gong' colloquially mean a medal?