Antonyms for ring


Grammar : Noun, verb
Spell : ring
Phonetic Transcription : rɪŋ


Definition of ring

Origin :
  • "circular band," Old English hring "small circlet, especially one of metal for wearing on the finger or as part of a mail coat; anything circular," from Proto-Germanic *khrengaz (cf. Old Norse hringr, Old Frisian hring, Danish, Swedish, Dutch ring, Old High German hring, German Ring), literally "something curved," from PIE *skrengh- nasalized form of (s)kregh-, from root *(s)ker- "to turn, bend," with wide-ranging derivative senses (cf. Latin curvus "bent, curved," crispus "curly;" Old Church Slavonic kragu "circle," and perhaps Greek kirkos "ring," koronos "curved").
  • Other Old English senses were "circular group of persons," also "horizon." Meaning "place for prize fight and wrestling bouts" (early 14c.) is from the space in a circle of bystanders in the midst of which such contests once were held, "... a circle formed for boxers, wrestlers, and cudgel players, by a man styled Vinegar; who, with his hat before his eyes, goes round the circle, striking at random with his whip to prevent the populace from crowding in" [Grose, 1788]. Meaning "combination of interested persons" is from 1829. Of trees, from 1670s; fairy ring is from 1620s. Ring finger is Old English hringfingr, a compound found in other Germanic languages. To run rings round (someone) "be superior to" is from 1891.
  • Nursery rhyme ring a ring a rosie is attested in an American form (with a different ending) from c.1790. "The belief that the rhyme originated with the Great Plague is now almost universal, but has no evidence to support it and is almost certainly nonsense" ["Oxford Dictionary of English Folklore"]. This proposal of connection dates only to the late 1960s.
  • noun circle; circular object
  • noun group participating together
  • noun chime, bell-like noise
  • verb encircle
  • verb chime; make bell-like noise
Example sentences :
  • To the porter who answered his ring he handed the message to be put off at the first stop.
  • Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson
  • The ring of anxiety in Grace's voice had not been lost upon her.
  • Extract from : « Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton Campus » by Jessie Graham Flower
  • A helmet fell from his hands on the floor with a ring of steel.
  • Extract from : « Viviette » by William J. Locke
  • He stepped to a corner of the room and by a ring he raised a trapdoor.
  • Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand
  • And he had actually given that ring into the keeping of this girl!
  • Extract from : « Ester Ried Yet Speaking » by Isabella Alden
  • You see, she finds the ring, as I knew she would from the moment that your string twanged.
  • Extract from : « The White Company » by Arthur Conan Doyle
  • Isn't it a wonder that we ever take the risk of having one ring in our ears forever?
  • Extract from : « Ester Ried Yet Speaking » by Isabella Alden
  • Thus it was possible to ring the doorbell from the pavement, and this the stranger did.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • She stood looking down, twisting her ring around her finger.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart
  • His eyes, lifted from the ring, fell on the red glow of the roses that had come that morning.
  • Extract from : « K » by Mary Roberts Rinehart

Synonyms for ring

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019