# bingo

/ˈbɪŋɡoʊ/ (US) · /bˈɪŋɡəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bingo
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the game

noun · CEFR B1

a game of chance where players mark off numbers on a card as they are called out.

For teachers: a game of chance in which participants match numbers printed in different arrangements on cards with the numbers the game host draws at random.

- My grandmother goes to the community centre every Tuesday night to play bingo with her friends.
- The local charity organised a bingo night to raise funds for the new hospital wing, attracting a surprisingly large crowd of competitive players.

### 2. success or discovery

interjection · CEFR B1 · Informal

you say this when you find exactly what you need or when you finish a task successfully.

For teachers: an exclamation used to express sudden success, the discovery of a sought-after object, or the confirmation of a correct idea.

- I looked through every drawer and then, bingo, I found my passport.
- The technician adjusted the frequency dial several times until, bingo, the signal came through clear and undistorted.

### 3. low fuel

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical · American English · Slang

used by pilots to mean they have just enough fuel to return home safely.

For teachers: describes a critical fuel state where a craft has only the minimum amount of fuel required to return to base or reach an alternate landing site.

- The pilot told the tower they were bingo fuel and needed to land immediately.
- With the mission objectives only partially met, the squadron leader was forced to call bingo fuel and order an immediate return to the carrier.

Usage: Usually used as a predicative adjective in radio communications.

Teaching tip: This is highly specialised military and aviation jargon; learners will likely only encounter it in films or technical contexts.

## Examples

- We played bingo at the community center on Friday night.
- The local charity organized a bingo night to raise money for the new playground equipment.
- While traditionally associated with social halls and retirement communities, bingo has seen a digital resurgence through mobile apps that allow thousands of players to compete simultaneously in virtual rooms.

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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.