Word
doorbell
Phoneticsdoor·bell, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdɔɹˌbɛɫ/
UK/dˈɔːbɛl/
Countable noun
Definition
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.
Examples
“I heard the doorbell ring while I was in the kitchen.”
“The delivery driver rang the doorbell twice before leaving the package on the front porch.”
“Modern security systems often integrate the doorbell with a high-definition camera, allowing homeowners to communicate with visitors remotely via a smartphone application.”
Examples
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.”
Etymology
From door + bell.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/doorbell