# ding

/ˈdɪŋ/ (US) · /dˈɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. ringing sound

noun · CEFR B1

the short, high sound that a small bell or a machine makes.

For teachers: a high-pitched, resonant sound characteristic of a small bell or an electronic notification.

- The microwave made a loud ding to let me know the food was ready.
- The constant ding of incoming notifications on his phone made it impossible for him to focus on the lecture.

### 2. small dent

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a very small mark or dent on something, like a car door or a surfboard.

For teachers: a minor surface indentation or chip caused by a light impact.

- I found a tiny ding on my car door after parking at the supermarket.
- The rental agency ignored the small ding on the bumper, classifying it as standard wear and tear rather than significant damage.

### 3. to penalise

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal · American English

to take away points or money as a small punishment.

For teachers: to penalise or deduct points, often in an evaluative or financial context.

- The teacher will ding you for every spelling mistake in your essay.
- The credit bureau will ding your score if you fail to make your loan repayments on time.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice with 'for'.

### 4. to damage slightly

verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to hit something and leave a small mark or dent.

For teachers: to cause minor physical damage through a light collision or strike.

- He accidentally dinged the table while moving the heavy chairs.
- The hail was large enough to ding the roof of the car, though the windows remained intact.

### 5. Chinese vessel

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a type of ancient Chinese pot with legs and a lid.

For teachers: a prehistoric and ancient Chinese cauldron, standing on legs with a lid and two facing handles.

- The museum has a bronze ding from the Shang dynasty.
- The ritual ding served as a symbol of authority and status during the Western Zhou period.

## Examples

- There is a small ding on my car door.
- I noticed a tiny ding on the side of the fridge after we moved it into the new kitchen.
- The microwave makes a loud ding when the timer finishes, alerting everyone in the office that lunch is ready.

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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.