# Bing

/ˈbɪŋ/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bing
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a ringing sound

noun · CEFR B1

the short, high sound made by a bell or a computer notification.

For teachers: an onomatopoeic representation of a high-pitched, resonant sound, such as that produced by a small bell or an electronic alert.

- The microwave made a loud bing to let me know the food was ready.
- The subtle bing of the elevator arriving was almost drowned out by the chatter in the busy hotel lobby.

### 2. to search online

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to look for information on the internet using the Bing search engine.

For teachers: to conduct an internet search specifically using the Microsoft Bing platform; often used as a proprietary eponym.

- If you cannot find the address on Google, try to bing it instead.
- The marketing team discussed whether users were more likely to bing the product name or use a more dominant search engine.

### 3. a heap of waste

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Dialect

a large pile of waste material from a mine or factory.

For teachers: a mound or heap composed of industrial waste, particularly slag from coal mining or shale oil production.

- The old coal bing stood like a small grey mountain outside the village.
- Local historians have campaigned to preserve the shale bings as monuments to the region's industrial heritage.

### 4. prison cell

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang

a small room in a prison where a prisoner is kept alone as a punishment.

For teachers: a slang term for solitary confinement within a correctional facility.

- The prisoner was sent to the bing for three days after the fight.
- The inmates knew that any violation of the facility's strict code would result in a week in the bing.

## Examples

- The microwave made a loud bing when the food was ready.
- I knew the email had arrived because I heard a soft bing from my phone across the room.
- The silence of the library was suddenly interrupted by the sharp bing of a laptop notification, causing several students to look up in annoyance.

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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.