ring
/rɪŋ/ (bre, ipa) · /rɪŋ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈriŋ/ (ame, mw)
ring — noun
- ringsingular
- ringsplural
1. any round shape or line that forms a closed curve, or any object shaped like a c
any round shape or line that forms a closed curve, or any object shaped like a circle with an open centre.
The children sat in a ring on the floor while the teacher read a story.
spatial arrangement: 'in a ring'
Water spread in rings across the pond after Mizuki threw a small stone.
ripple pattern: 'rings across'
The old tree trunk had dark rings that showed how many years it had lived.
Diego slid the metal ring onto the curtain rod and hung the fabric.
A ring of police officers stood around the building to keep people away.
用法筆記
This is the most basic sense of the noun. It describes any circular shape or object — from physical objects (napkin rings, key rings) to patterns (smoke rings, tree rings).
2. a decorative circle made from a valuable material such as gold or silver, worn o
a decorative circle made from a valuable material such as gold or silver, worn on a finger as an ornament or a symbol.
Rania showed off her diamond engagement ring to everyone at the office.
engagement ring / diamond ring
Meera wears a simple gold ring that her grandmother gave her years ago.
Before the wedding, Rafael slid the ring onto his partner's finger.
The wedding rings were placed on a small velvet cushion during the ceremony.
Adina had the ring resized because it felt too loose on her finger.
- band
a plain ring without decoration; also called a wedding band
- signet ring
a ring with a flat surface that can be engraved with initials or a design
- circlet
literary term for a small ring or crown, rarely used in everyday speech
用法筆記
Different types include engagement rings (given when a couple decides to marry) and wedding rings (exchanged during the wedding ceremony). 'Ring' without context usually means a finger ring.
常見錯誤
3. a small organisation whose members act together secretly, typically to achieve d
a small organisation whose members act together secretly, typically to achieve dishonest or illegal goals.
Police arrested seven people linked to a drug ring operating in the city.
typical collocation: drug ring
The smuggling ring moved stolen artworks across three different countries.
smuggling ring
Élise discovered that a spy ring had been passing secrets to a foreign government.
A gambling ring was operating from the back room of the restaurant for years.
Prosecutors charged six members of the fraud ring with stealing money from the elderly.
用法筆記
Almost always appears with a modifier naming the illegal activity: drug ring, smuggling ring, spy ring, fraud ring. Often used in news reports about crime investigations.
4. one of the flat, round parts on top of a stove or cooker that produces heat for
one of the flat, round parts on top of a stove or cooker that produces heat for cooking food in a pan.
Nala left the soup simmering on the back ring of the stove.
position: 'back ring'
Ignacio turned the gas ring to a high flame to boil water quickly.
gas ring
Make sure all the rings are switched off before you leave the kitchen.
The electric ring on the cooker glowed red when Imani turned it on.
Meera wiped the grease off the stove rings after cooking the fish.
用法筆記
Common in British English (BrE 'cooker ring', 'gas ring'). In American English the term 'burner' is more common. A cooker typically has four rings.
5. a square or circular enclosed area where a contest, performance, or show takes p
a square or circular enclosed area where a contest, performance, or show takes place, especially a boxing match or circus performance.
The boxer stepped into the ring and raised his gloves to the crowd.
boxing ring
A clown rode a tiny bicycle around the circus ring while the audience laughed.
The referee counted to ten as the fighter lay on the floor of the ring.
Diego trained for months before his first match inside a real boxing ring.
Two trained elephants stood side by side in the centre of the circus ring.
- arena
a much larger space for sports or entertainment, with seats around it
- square ring
occasionally used to describe the boxing ring's actual shape
- dais
a raised platform, not specifically for fighting or performances
用法筆記
Despite its name, a boxing ring is actually square — the term comes from the original shape used in early prizefighting. 'Step into the ring' is an idiom meaning to enter a competition or fight.
6. one of two circular handles that hang from ropes above the floor, used by gymnas
one of two circular handles that hang from ropes above the floor, used by gymnasts to perform strength and balance routines — usually used in plural: rings.
Christopher held himself perfectly still in the rings routine, showing great upper-body strength.
plural: 'the rings'
The gymnast swung between the rings before landing a perfect dismount.
Mizuki won a silver medal on the rings at the national gymnastics competition.
Practising on the rings requires strong shoulder muscles and good balance.
- still rings
the formal name of the Olympic discipline
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural ('the rings') when referring to the gymnastics event or apparatus. 'Ring' (singular) can refer to one of the two handles. This is an Olympic gymnastics discipline for men.
7. an act of calling someone by telephone — a telephone call.
an act of calling someone by telephone — a telephone call.
I'll give you a ring tomorrow morning to confirm our lunch plans.
fixed phrase: 'give someone a ring'
Rafael missed three rings from his mother while he was in the meeting.
Amihan gave the doctor a ring and made an appointment for next week.
I tried to give you a ring earlier, but your phone was switched off.
After a quick ring to the hotel, Esme confirmed that the room was ready.
- call
the most common general term for phoning someone
- phone call
neutral, used in both British and American English
用法筆記
Used mainly in British English in the fixed phrase 'give someone a ring' (make a phone call). In American English people more often say 'give a call' or 'a phone call'. This is the noun form of the verb sense 'ring' (to phone).
8. the loud, clear noise produced when a bell is hit or shaken.
the loud, clear noise produced when a bell is hit or shaken.
The ring of the church bells could be heard all across the village.
ring of + bell(s)
There was a loud ring as the blacksmith struck the anvil with his hammer.
Adina knew the school day was over when she heard the ring of the bell.
The phone has a soft ring that does not startle people in the office.
A clear ring echoed through the hall when the grandfather clock struck noon.
用法筆記
Often used with a prepositional phrase specifying the source: 'the ring of a bell', 'the ring of the phone'. In the phrase 'there is a ring of truth to it', the meaning shifts metaphorically to 'a quality that sounds or seems true'.
ring — verb
- ringpresent simple I / you / we / they
- ringshe / she / it
- ringedpast simple
- ringing-ing form
- rungpast participle
1. to use a telephone to contact someone and speak to them.
to use a telephone to contact someone and speak to them.
I'll ring you later tonight after I finish my homework.
ring + person (transitive)
Amihan rang for a taxi after the party ended at midnight.
ring + for + thing needed
The doctor's office rang to remind me about my appointment.
Christopher rang his sister in Canada to wish her a happy birthday.
Someone rang while you were in the shower — I took a message.
文法句型
ring + somebody
ring + for something
ring + to do something
用法筆記
Common in British English. In American English 'call' is preferred. Past tense is 'rang' and past participle is 'rung': 'I rang you yesterday', 'I have rung three times'. Distinguish from verb sense 2: this sense means to phone someone, not to make a bell sound.
常見錯誤
2. to produce a clear, resonant sound like a bell, or to cause a bell to make such
to produce a clear, resonant sound like a bell, or to cause a bell to make such a sound.
The school bell rings at half past three every afternoon.
intransitive: bell rings
Ignacio rang the bell and waited for someone to open the door.
transitive: ring + bell
My ears are still ringing from the loud music at the concert last night.
A loud crash rang through the house when the shelf fell down.
The applause rang in the hall long after the performance had ended.
文法句型
ring + adverb/preposition
ring + bell (transitive)
bell + rings (intransitive)
用法筆記
Past tense is 'rang', past participle is 'rung'. Can be used transitively ('ring the bell') or intransitively ('the bell rang'). For ears ringing after loud noise, use 'my ears are ringing' — always in the continuous form. See also the fixed phrase 'ring a bell' (idiom: sound familiar).
常見錯誤
3. to form a circle around someone or something — to enclose or encircle.
to form a circle around someone or something — to enclose or encircle.
Tall, ancient trees ring the small lake, giving it shade all summer.
active: trees ring + lake
The old town square is ringed by beautiful historic buildings.
passive: is ringed by
Security guards ringed the building after the threat was reported.
The garden was ringed with low stone walls that kept the sheep out.
Dark mountains ring the valley on every side, blocking the wind.
- open
to create a space without enclosing objects around it
文法句型
ring + object + with/by
be ringed + with/by
用法筆記
Regular verb: past tense is 'ringed' (not 'rang'). Often appears in the passive form 'be ringed by/with'. This is a different verb from the irregular 'ring - rang - rung' used for phone and bell senses.
常見錯誤
4. to put a circular mark around a written word, number, or answer to highlight or
to put a circular mark around a written word, number, or answer to highlight or select it.
The teacher asked us to ring the correct answer in each row.
ring + answer
Meera ringed the items she still needed to buy on the shopping list.
ring + items on list
Please ring any spelling mistakes you find in the paragraph.
Imani ringed the exam date on her calendar so she would not forget.
文法句型
ring + noun phrase (usually a word or item on a list)
用法筆記
Regular verb: past tense is 'ringed' (not 'rang'). Common in classroom instructions and marking. In American English people more often say 'circle' instead of 'ring'.
5. to put a small metal band around the leg of a bird so that its movements and lif
to put a small metal band around the leg of a bird so that its movements and life can be tracked and studied by scientists.
Scientists ring birds at the nature reserve every spring to monitor migration patterns.
passive reading: ring birds for tracking
The young swan was ringed last month by a team from the university.
passive: bird + was ringed
Each bird that is ringed receives a unique number stamped on the tiny metal band.
Diego volunteers at the bird observatory where he helps ring migrating songbirds.
- band
American English equivalent; more widely recognised internationally
文法句型
ring + bird
用法筆記
Regular verb: past tense is 'ringed'. In American English the term 'band' is more common (opposite of the jewellery sense). The object is always an animal, typically a bird. The noun form of this practice is 'bird ringing' in British English.