ring
ring
Pronunciation
/rɪŋ/.
/rɪŋ/ - The word "ring" has only one syllable, and it consists of the following sounds:
/r/ - voiced alveolar approximant
/ɪ/ - near-close near-front unrounded vowel
/ŋ/ - voiced velar nasal
Word Form Variations
As a Noun:
Singular: ring (e.g., "She wore a beautiful ring on her finger.")
Plural: rings (e.g., "He collected many different rings.")
"Ring" as a noun can refer to:
A piece of jewelry (e.g., a wedding ring).
A circular object or shape (e.g., onion rings, a ring of trees).
An enclosed area for performance or competition (e.g., a boxing ring, a circus ring).
A group of people, often involved in illicit activities (e.g., a spy ring, a drug ring).
A telephone call (informal, especially in British English, e.g., "Give me a ring later.").
The sound a bell makes (e.g., "There was a loud ring at the door.").
As a Verb:
"Ring" as a verb has two main sets of meanings, each with its own past tense and past participle forms:
1. To make a sound (like a bell) or to make a phone call:
Base Form: ring (e.g., "The bells ring every hour.")
Third Person Singular Present: rings (e.g., "The phone rings constantly.")
Present Participle/Gerund: ringing (e.g., "The phone is ringing," "I heard the ringing of the bells.")
Simple Past: rang (e.g., "The doorbell rang," "I rang my friend yesterday.")
Past Participle: rung (e.g., "The bells have rung," "He had rung the phone several times.")
2. To encircle or surround:
Base Form: ring (e.g., "They will ring the trees with a fence.")
Third Person Singular Present: rings (e.g., "A fence rings the property.")
Present Participle/Gerund: ringing (e.g., "They were ringing the cattle.")
Simple Past: ringed (e.g., "The island was ringed with rocks.")
Past Participle: ringed (e.g., "The city had been ringed by enemy troops.")
Other related forms:
Adjective: ringing (e.g., "a ringing endorsement," "ringing shouts") - This is the present participle used as an adjective. While "ring" itself is not an adjective, "ringing" is.
Adverb: While "ring" itself isn't typically used as an adverb, the archaic or less common phrase "a-ring" could function as an adverb meaning "in a ring." However, this is not common in modern English.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
1. A circular band, typically made of metal and worn as an ornament or a symbol.
Definition: A closed loop, often crafted from precious metals like gold or silver, designed to be worn on a finger, ear, or other body part, signifying personal adornment, marital status, or affiliation.
Synonyms: band, hoop, circlet, torc
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this specific meaning, as it describes a specific object.)
2. A distinct enclosed circular area, often designated for specific activities or events.
Definition: A demarcated space, shaped like a circle, used for athletic competitions, performances, or other public gatherings, providing a clear boundary for participants and observers.
Synonyms: arena, circuit, enclosure, circus
Antonyms: open space, boundless area, unconfined space
3. A characteristic sound produced by a bell or a similar resonant object; specifically, the sound of a telephone call.
Definition: The audible vibrations emanating from a bell, chime, or an electronic device like a telephone, signaling an event, summoning attention, or indicating an incoming communication.
Synonyms: chime, peal, clang, ding, buzz (for telephone)
Antonyms: silence, quiet, hush
4. A clandestine group of individuals operating together, often for illicit or unethical purposes.
Definition: A secretive network or association of people who collaborate to achieve a common, usually illegal or deceptive, objective, often involving organized crime or fraud.
Synonyms: syndicate, gang, network, cabal, cartel
Antonyms: legitimate organization, public group, open association
5. A continuous circular mark or shape.
Definition: Any natural or artificial formation that creates a circular outline, such as the growth lines on a tree, a stain left by a wet glass, or a pattern of concentric circles.
Synonyms: circle, loop, circumference, halo (if luminous)
Antonyms: straight line, irregular shape, point
Verb
1. (Transitive/Intransitive) To produce a resonant sound, typically from a bell or a similar object; to cause such an object to sound.
Definition: To emit a clear, vibrating tone, as a bell does, or to activate a device that produces such a sound, often to signal or attract attention.
Synonyms: chime, peal, toll, clang, ding
Antonyms: mute, silence, muffle
2. (Transitive/Intransitive) To make a telephone call to someone.
Definition: To initiate a communication via a telephone, connecting with another person at a distant location.
Synonyms: call, phone, dial, buzz (informal)
Antonyms: hang up, disconnect (as in ending a call)
3. (Transitive) To encircle or surround something.
Definition: To form a circle around an object, person, or area, enclosing it entirely or partially within a circular boundary.
Synonyms: encircle, surround, enclose, circumscribe, gird
Antonyms: uncircle, open, release, disperse
4. (Intransitive) To resonate or echo with a sound, often in a vivid or memorable way.
Definition: To be filled with a sound that reverberates or leaves a lasting impression, often used metaphorically for words or ideas that have a powerful impact.
Synonyms: resonate, echo, reverberate, sound, resound
Antonyms: fade, diminish, silence
Adjective
1. (Used as a present participle) Producing a clear, resonant sound; impressive or forceful. * Definition: Describing something that emits a loud, clear, and often sustained sound, or, figuratively, something that is unequivocally powerful, convincing, or sincere. * Synonyms: resonant, resounding, booming, emphatic, unequivocal, forceful * Antonyms: muted, muffled, quiet, faint, weak, uncertain
Adverb
(While "ring" itself is not directly an adverb, the archaic or less common phrase "a-ring" functions adverbially, meaning "in a ring." However, this is not a common modern usage and direct adverbial forms derived from "ring" are not standard.
Examples of Use
Books:
"One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them." (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, July 1954)
"He heard the familiar ring of his mother's laughter from the kitchen." (Excerpt from a contemporary novel, specific title not available)
Newspapers:
"The city council approved plans for a new traffic ring road to ease congestion in the downtown area." (The Daily Nation)
"Police arrested members of an international car theft ring operating across three continents." (The New York Times)
Online Publications:
"How to Choose the Perfect Engagement Ring: A Comprehensive Guide." (The Knot)
"Scientists discover a new planetary ring system around a distant exoplanet." (Space.com)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "Don't just stand there, ring the bell!" (Dialogue from Home Alone, November 1990)
Music: "If you like it then you should've put a ring on it." (Lyrics from Beyoncé's "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)," October 2008)
Television: "In tonight's episode, a famous boxer returns to the ring for a final match." (ESPN SportsCenter, March 2025 broadcast segment)
Video Games: "Collect all the golden rings to advance to the next level." (Sonic the Hedgehog series gameplay instruction, first released June 1991)
General Public Discourse:
"Can you ring me back in about an hour? I'm in a meeting." (Common telephone conversation)
"The recent speech by the president had a truly ringing endorsement of the new policy." (Heard in political commentary)
"The children formed a ring around the storyteller during the outdoor event." (Observed at a public park)
"Did you hear the school bell ring? It's time for lunch!" (Everyday conversation)
10 Quotes Using Ring
"One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them." (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, July 1954)
"Marriage is like a golden ring in a chain, whose beginning is a glance and whose ending is eternity." (Khalil Gibran)
"A bell's not a bell 'til you ring it, A song's not a song 'til you sing it, Love in your heart wasn't put there to stay, Love isn't love 'til you give it away!" (Oscar Hammerstein II)
"We dance round in a ring and suppose, but the secret sits in the middle and knows." (Robert Frost)
"When you look at the light bulb above you, you remember Thomas Alva Edison. When the telephone bell rings, you remember Alexander Graham Bell." (A. P. J. Abdul Kalam)
"I think before you die, you see the ring." (Rachel Keller, The Ring, 2002 film)
"Freedom rings where opinions clash." (Adlai Stevenson I)
"You know what a champion is? A champion is someone who's ready when the gong rings - not just before, not just after - but when it rings." (Jack Dempsey)
"All that is gold does not glitter, / Not all those who wander are lost; / The old that is strong does not wither, / Deep roots are not reached by the frost. / From the ashes a fire shall be woken, / A light from the shadows shall spring; / Renewed shall be blade that was broken, / The crownless again shall be king." (J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring)
"Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell: Ding-dong. Hark! now I hear them — Ding-dong, bell." (William Shakespeare, The Tempest)
Etymology
The word "ring" actually has a fascinating history because it comes from two different original sources in Old English, which is why it has such distinct meanings today (like a piece of jewelry versus the sound a bell makes).
Let's break it down:
1. "Ring" as a Circular Object (like a wedding ring):
This "ring" comes from the Old English word "hring."
Its origins can be traced back even further to a Proto-Germanic word called "hringaz," which meant "something curved" or "circle."
First known use and meaning: This sense of "ring" as a circlet of metal, especially a valuable one worn on the finger for decoration, was already in use during the Old English period (before 1150 AD). It referred to anything circular, including parts of mail armor. So, people were talking about actual rings on fingers and circular shapes long, long ago.
2. "Ring" as a Sound (like a bell ringing):
This "ring" comes from a different Old English word, "hringan."
This word is thought to be imitative in origin, meaning it was likely created to sound like the noise it described – like a "ding" or "clang."
First known use and meaning: The verb "to ring" (meaning to cause a bell to sound or to announce something by bells) was also in use during the Old English period (before 1150 AD). So, even back then, people were ringing bells and the sound they made was described with this word. Over time, this meaning expanded to include the sound of a telephone, the feeling of ears "ringing," and even the idea of something "ringing true" (meaning it sounds genuine).
So, essentially, we have two ancient "rings" that happened to develop into the same spelling in modern English, but they came from different sound and meaning roots.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Ring
Let’s explore phrases and idioms using "ring":
Ring a bell: To sound familiar; to remind someone of something.
Give someone a ring: To call someone on the telephone.
Ring true: To sound honest, genuine, or credible.
Ring in the New Year: To celebrate the beginning of the new year, often with bells or celebrations.
Ring out: To sound loudly and clearly (often for bells or cheers).
Run rings around someone: To be much better or more skilled than someone else; to easily outperform them.
Ring the changes: To do things differently to make them more interesting or to improve them.
Ring fencing: Designating funds or resources for a specific purpose so they cannot be used for anything else.
Have the ring of truth: To seem to be true or believable.
Ring of fire: A circular area known for volcanic activity and earthquakes, particularly around the Pacific Ocean.
Ring of confidence: A feeling or atmosphere of assurance or self-belief.
Put a ring on it: To propose marriage; to commit to a relationship (popularized by a song).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of ring from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
