# beep

/ˈbip/ (US) · /bˈiːp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/beep
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. electronic sound

noun · CEFR A2

a short, high sound made by an electronic device like a microwave or computer.

For teachers: a short, high-pitched sound emitted by an electronic device, often as a signal or alert.

- The microwave gave a loud beep to let me know the food was ready.
- The technician monitored the server rack, waiting for the distinctive beep that would indicate the system had successfully rebooted.

### 2. car horn

noun · CEFR B1

the short sound made by a car horn.

For teachers: the auditory signal produced by a vehicle's horn, typically used as a warning or greeting.

- I heard a quick beep from a car outside and knew my taxi had arrived.
- A friendly beep from a passing motorist suggested that the driver was a neighbor recognizing the family in the driveway.

### 3. to make a sound

verb · CEFR A2

to make a short, high sound.

For teachers: to emit a short, high-pitched electronic sound; functions both transitively and intransitively.

- The scanner will beep every time you swipe a new item.
- The medical monitor began to beep rhythmically, alerting the nursing staff to a change in the patient's heart rate.

Usage: The verb can be used without an object or with the sound as the object.

### 4. to call someone

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to call someone's phone and let it ring once so they call you back.

For teachers: to signal someone by calling their telephone and hanging up after a single ring to avoid charges or request a callback.

- I don't have any credit left, so I'll just beep you when I'm outside.
- Before the era of unlimited data plans, students would often beep one another to signal they had arrived at the library.

Usage: Takes a person as a direct object.

### 5. humorous euphemism

verb · CEFR C1 · Humorous · Informal · Slang

a funny way to say a 'bad' word or talk about sex, like the sound used to hide words on TV.

For teachers: used as a humorous or euphemistic substitute for taboo language or sexual intercourse, mimicking the censorship tone used in broadcasting.

- If he says that again, they are going to have to beep him out.
- The comedian used the word 'beep' throughout his set to mock the strict censorship rules of the television network.

Teaching tip: This is a playful use of the word; learners should use it only in very casual, joking contexts with friends.

## Examples

- The microwave beeped when the food was ready.
- She heard a soft beep from her phone and checked the screen.
- The steady beep of the heart monitor was the only sound in the quiet hospital room.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.