ring
gb/ɹˈɪŋ/ us/ɹˈɪŋ/
A2
English
~ 1900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Circular band for the finger
A small circle made of metal that you wear on your finger.
Usage pattern:
wear [a] ring
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'ring' with 'circle'. A 'ring' is usually a physical object, not just a shape.
Synonyms
band (A more general term for a ring-shaped object, often used for simple rings without gemstones.)
Collocations
wedding ring
|engagement ring
|gold ring
|diamond ring
|wear a ring
Themes
fashion
|relationships
|daily life
|clothing
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She wore a gold ring on her left hand.
- He bought her a diamond engagement ring.
- The thief stole an expensive wedding ring.
Learner examples
- I have a silver ring.
- She wears a ring on her hand.
- He gives her a gold ring.
Noun
A2
event
2
Sound made by a bell or phone
The sound you hear from a bell or phone when it is used.
Usage pattern:
hear [a] ring
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'ring' (the sound) with 'ringing' (the action or continuous sound).
Synonyms
chime (Often refers to a softer or more musical ringing sound.)
Antonyms
silence (The absence of any ringing or sound.)
Collocations
phone ring
|doorbell ring
|alarm ring
Themes
daily life
|communication
|daily_life
Examples
- I heard the ring of the doorbell.
- The phone's ring woke me up.
- There was a loud ring from the church bell.
Learner examples
- I hear the phone ring.
- The bell makes a ring.
- The alarm has a loud ring.
Verb
A2
action
3
Make bell or phone produce sound
To make a bell or phone make its sound.
Usage pattern:
ring [a bell/phone/alarm]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'ring' with 'call' and overuse 'call' even when referring to just making the device sound.
Synonyms
call (In the context of telephones, 'call' is broader and includes the act of speaking after the phone rings.)
Collocations
ring the bell
|ring someone up
|ring the alarm
Themes
communication
|daily life
|daily_life
Examples
- Please ring the doorbell when you arrive.
- I will ring you later to discuss the details.
- She rang the alarm to alert everyone.
Learner examples
- Ring the bell, please.
- I will ring you tonight.
- He rings the alarm every morning.
Noun
B1
entity
4
Circular area for sports or shows
A space, often round, where people do sports like boxing or shows like in a circus.
Synonyms
arena (Larger and less strictly circular than a 'ring'.)
Collocations
boxing ring
|wrestling ring
|circus ring
Themes
sports
|entertainment
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The fighters entered the boxing ring.
- The clown performed in the circus ring.
- He was nervous before stepping into the wrestling ring.
Learner examples
- The man is in the boxing ring.
- They fight in the ring.
- The circus has a big ring.
Verb
B2
action
5
Surround something in a circle
To go around someone or something in a circle.
Usage pattern:
ring [someone/something]
Synonyms
encircle ('Encircle' is slightly more formal and less common in everyday speech.)
Antonyms
disperse (To break apart from being around something.)
Collocations
ring the city
|ring with police
Themes
nature
|military
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Police ringed the building during the protest.
- Tall trees ringed the lake.
- The army ringed the town to cut off supplies.
Learner examples
- Trees ring the park.
- Soldiers ring the city.
- People ring the stage.
Noun
B2
entity
6
Group for illegal activities
A group of people who do illegal things together.
Synonyms
gang ('Gang' can be less organized and not necessarily secretive like some rings.)
Collocations
smuggling ring
|drug ring
|crime ring
Themes
crime
|law
|business
Examples
- The police broke up an international smuggling ring.
- He was arrested for being part of a drug ring.
- Authorities uncovered a large crime ring operating in the city.
Learner examples
- The police stop a drug ring.
- He is in a crime ring.
- They catch the smuggling ring.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ring
IPA
GB/ɹˈɪŋ/
US/ɹˈɪŋ/
Syllables & stress
ring (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (ring)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: ring
- Plural: rings
Verb
- Base: ring
- 3rd Person Singular: rings
- Present Participle: ringing
- Past: rang
- Past Participle: rung
Word family
Forms
Core family
ringer
noun
Advanced or less common
ringlet
noun
ringed
adjective
Highlights
- Irregular past: rang Verb
- Irregular past participle: rung Verb
Expressions
give someone a ring
1/ɡˈɪv sˈʌmwˌʌn ə ɹˈɪŋ/
idiom
informal
Call someone on the telephone
To call someone using the phone.
Examples
- I'll give you a ring tomorrow evening.
- Give me a ring when you get home safely.
run rings around someone
1/ɹˈʌn ɹˈɪŋz ɚˈaʊnd sˈʌmwˌʌn/
idiom
informal
Perform much better than someone easily
To do something much better than another person without difficulty.
Examples
- She ran rings around her opponents in the debate.
- Our team ran rings around theirs in the second half.
throw one's hat in the ring
1/θɹˈoʊ wˈʌnz hˈæt ˈɪn ðə ɹˈɪŋ/
idiom
Announce participation in competition/candidacy
To say you want to try for something, like a job or position.
Examples
- He threw his hat in the ring for the mayoral race.
- Several candidates have already thrown their hats in the ring.
ring a bell
1/ɹˈɪŋ ə bˈɛl/
idiom
Seem familiar to someone mentally
To sound like something you have heard before but cannot fully remember.
Examples
- Her name doesn't ring a bell with me.
- That name doesn't ring a bell for me.
- That song rings a bell — I think I've heard it before.
- Her face rings a bell, but I can't remember where we've met.
three-ring circus
1/θɹˈi ɹˈɪŋ sˈɚkəs/
idiom
informal
many things happening at once
A situation where many different things are happening at the same time, often in a confusing or crazy way.
Examples
- The office was like a three-ring circus on Monday morning.
- Planning the wedding has been a three-ring circus from the start.
- Planning this wedding has turned into a three-ring circus.
- The office turned into a three-ring circus during the merger.
- Running the festival is a three-ring circus every year.