ring
2verb
rɪŋ 
rɪŋ ræŋ ræŋ rʌŋ rʌŋ telephone
1 (British English) (also call North American English, British English) [transitive, intransitive] to telephone somebody/somethingring somebody/something up I'll ring you up later.He rang up the police station.ring somebody/something When is the best time to ring New York?ring (up) David rang up while you were out.He said he was ringing from London.I'm ringing about your advertisement in the paper.She rang to say she'd be late.ring for something Could you ring for a cab?2 [intransitive] (of a telephone) to make a sound because somebody is trying to telephone youWill you answer the telephone if it rings?bell
3 [transitive, intransitive] if you ring a bell or if a bell rings, it produces a soundring (something) Someone was ringing the doorbell.The church bells rang.The doorbell rang loudly.ring for somebody/something Just ring for the nurse (= attract the nurse's attention by ringing a bell) if you need her.with sound
4 [intransitive] ring (with something) (literary) to be full of a sound; to fill a place with soundSynonym
resoundThe house rang with children's laughter.Applause rang through the hall.with quality
5 [intransitive] ring (with something) to be full of a particular qualityHis words rang with pride.of ears
6 [intransitive] to be uncomfortable and be unable to hear clearly, usually because you have heard a loud noise, etcThe music was so loud it made my ears ring.Idioms
ring a bell
(informal) to sound familiar to you, as though you have heard it beforeHis name rings a bell but I can't think where we met.ring the changes (with something)
(British English) to make changes to something in order to have greater varietyRing the changes with a new colour.ring in your ears/head
to make you feel that you can still hear something
His warning was still ringing in my ears.ring off the hook
(usually used in the progressive tenses) (North American English) (of a telephone) to ring many timesThe phone has been ringing off the hook with offers of help.ring true/hollow/false
to give the impression of being sincere/true or not sincere/true
It may seem a strange story but it rings true to me.Phrasal verbs
ring around
= ring roundring back
|ring somebody 
back
(British English) to telephone somebody again, for example because they were not there when you called earlier, or to return a call they made to youHe isn't here now—could you ring back later?I'll ask Simon to ring you back when he gets in.ring in
(British English) to telephone a television or radio show, or the place where you workPeople from all over the country have been ringing in to make donations.Sue has rung in sick.ring in something
to ring bells to celebrate something, especially the new yearring off
(British English) to put down the telephone because you have finished speakingHe rang off before I could explain.ring out
to be heard loudly and clearlyA number of shots rang out.His deep voice rang out for all to hear.ring round (somebody/something)
|ring around (somebody/something)
(British English) to telephone a number of people in order to organize something or to get some information, etcI rang round all the travel agents in the area.ring through (to somebody)
(British English) to make a telephone call to somebody, especially within the same buildingReception just rang through to say my visitor has arrived.ring something up
to enter the cost of goods being bought in a shop/store on a cash register by pressing the buttons; to make sales of a particular valueShe rang up all the items on the till.The company rang up sales of $166 million last year.
Usage note: phone / call / ringVerbsIn British English, to phone, to ring and to call are the usual ways of saying to telephone. In North American English the most common word is call, but phone is also used. Speakers of North American English do not say ring. Telephone is very formal and is used mainly in British English.NounsYou can use call or phone call (more formal) in both British English and North American English: Were there any phone calls for me? ◇ How do I make a local call? The idiom give somebody a call is also common: I’ll give you a call tonight. In informal British English you could also say: I’ll give you a ring tonight.