# dialing

/ˈdaɪəɫɪŋ/ (US) · CEFR B1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/dialing
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

to enter a phone number by pressing buttons or turning a wheel to make a call.

For teachers: the present participle of 'dial'; refers to the act of entering a series of digits into a telephone to establish a connection.

## Examples

- She is dialing the emergency number right now.
- I spent ten minutes dialing the office, but the line was busy every time I tried.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am dialing to him" but "I am dialing his number" — Dial is transitive and takes the number or person as a direct object without the preposition 'to'.

## Usage notes

- Transitive or intransitive; can be used with or without a direct object (the number).

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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.