Word
tolling
US/ˈtoʊɫɪŋ/
UK/tˈəʊlɪŋ/
Definition
v. to ring a big bell slowly, again and again. You hear it at funerals or as a sign of sad news or danger.
v. to ring a bell slowly and repeatedly, especially to mark a death, funeral, or warning. Typically describes a solemn public signal rather than ordinary ringing.
Examples
“The old church bells are tolling for the funeral.”
“The church bells are tolling across the village to mark the start of the memorial service.”
“As dusk fell, the cathedral bells kept tolling, their slow notes carrying across the river while crowds stood in silence.”
Examples
simple
“The old church bells are tolling for the funeral.”
contextual
“The church bells are tolling across the village to mark the start of the memorial service.”
complex
“As dusk fell, the cathedral bells kept tolling, their slow notes carrying across the river while crowds stood in silence.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “tolling” in context.
Verb
01. begin tolling
“At noon, the cathedral bells began tolling for the memorial service.”
verb + noun
02. church tolling
“The church kept tolling long after midnight.”
noun + verb
03. hear tolling
“From our hotel, we could hear tolling from the old town church.”
verb + noun
04. stop tolling
“The bells continued for an hour, then finally stopped tolling.”
verb + noun
05. tolling echoes
“The slow tolling echoes across the empty square.”
noun + verb
Adjective
06. distant tolling
“We woke to the distant tolling of church bells in the valley.”
adj + noun
07. mournful tolling
“The mournful tolling echoed through the village after the sad news.”
adj + noun
08. solemn tolling
“The cathedral filled with the solemn tolling of its largest bell.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. sound of tolling
“The sound of tolling filled the cold morning air.”
noun + prep + noun
10. bells began tolling at midnight
“The bells began tolling at midnight to mark the sad anniversary.”
11. hear the bell tolling
“We could hear the bell tolling from miles away.”
12. tolling marked the funeral
“The slow tolling marked the funeral from the village church.”
Related words
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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