ding
ding — noun
- dingsingular
- dingsplural
1. a quick, clear sound like a small bell or an electronic alert
a quick, clear sound like a small bell or an electronic alert
A sharp ding from Hui's oven told her the bread was ready.
ding from + device
Jude heard a ding on his laptop and checked the new email.
The lift gave a soft ding when it reached the sixth floor.
A ding from the bike bell made the children step aside.
- hear a ding
- a soft ding
- a sharp ding
- oven ding
- phone ding
Usage Note
Often names a brief alert from a bell, timer, phone, or oven. It is usually used for a single short sound, not a long continuing ring.
Common Mistakes
2. a small dent or mark left on a surface after it is knocked
a small dent or mark left on a surface after it is knocked
Ryan spotted a ding near the car door after the supermarket trip.
ding near + part of a surface
The metal lunch box still had a ding from last year's fall.
A ding on the suitcase handle showed how roughly it was thrown.
Salma rubbed the tiny ding on the table with her thumb.
- a small ding
- a ding in the paint
- a ding on the door
- door ding
- bumper ding
Usage Note
Most often used for a minor mark on metal, painted surfaces, or hard plastic. It is less serious than clear structural damage.
Common Mistakes
ding — verb
- dingpresent simple I / you / we / they
- dings3rd person singular
- dinging-ing form
- dingedpast simple
1. to give a short bell-like sound
to give a short bell-like sound
The microwave dinged just as Rafael poured the soup into bowls.
device + ding
Hui's phone dinged twice during the quiet part of the play.
A brass bell dinged above the cafe door when Jin came in.
The timer dinged at ten minutes, and Chidi turned off the stove.
ding + time expression
- phone dinged
- timer dinged
- ding twice
- ding at noon
- bell dinged
Grammar Patterns
ding
ding + time expression
Usage Note
The subject is usually a bell, timer, phone, or other device that makes a quick alert sound. It often suggests one short note rather than repeated ringing.
Common Mistakes
2. to leave a small dent or mark on something when it is hit
to leave a small dent or mark on something when it is hit
Jin dinged the car door on the low wall outside school.
ding + something + on + surface
The falling pan dinged the fridge and left a small mark.
A heavy keychain dinged the metal near the front lock.
Rafael dinged his suitcase on the bus step while boarding.
- ding the car door
- ding the paint
- ding the fridge
- get dinged in a parking lot
- ding a suitcase
Grammar Patterns
ding + something
ding + something + on + surface
Usage Note
Usually describes minor surface damage to a car, case, or appliance. It focuses on the small mark left behind, not on serious breakage.
Common Mistakes
3. to point out that someone did something wrong, often in a sharp or critical way
to point out that someone did something wrong, often in a sharp or critical way
The editor dinged Jude for missing two names in the report.
ding + someone + for + something
Coach Saira dinged the team after another careless pass in practice.
My aunt dinged me for leaving wet towels on the bed.
The reviewer dinged Ryan for weak evidence in the final section.
- ding someone for lateness
- ding a student for errors
- ding the team for sloppy play
- ding a draft for weak evidence
- get dinged for a mistake
Grammar Patterns
ding + someone
ding + someone + for + something
ding + someone + for + doing something
Usage Note
Often followed by for plus the mistake being criticized. In American English, it can mean either scolding someone directly or marking them down for a fault.
Common Mistakes
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
For noun/1, ding suggests one short, clear sound, often from a small bell, oven, phone, or lift. Beep is more machine-like and usually sounds flatter or more electronic. Chime often feels softer, prettier, or more musical, especially for clocks or bells. Ring is the broad everyday word and can describe anything from a doorbell to a phone or alarm. Buzz usually refers to a rougher continuous sound, not one neat note. If your phone gives a quick alert, you might hear a ding or a beep. If a church bell sounds across town, ring or chime is more natural than ding.
Etymology
Ding is an imitative English word that copies the sound of a small bell or metal note. English later extended it from the sound itself to the act of making that sound, and then to the idea of a light knock or the small mark left by one.