English Reference
Noun

doorbell

n. countable
A1 Beginner US /ˈdɔɹˌbɛɫ/ UK /dˈɔːbɛl/ door·bell UK spelling doorbells

n.a button outside a house that you press to make a sound inside, telling the people you are there.

n.a signalling device, typically located near an exterior door, that a visitor activates to alert occupants of their presence.


SIMPLE

I heard the doorbell ring while I was in the kitchen.

CONTEXTUAL

The delivery driver rang the doorbell twice before leaving the package on the front porch.

COMPLEX

Modern security systems often integrate the doorbell with a high-definition camera, allowing homeowners to communicate with visitors remotely via a smartphone application.


From door + bell.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level A1 · Beginner
Frequency Occasional
Updated