RING-ing
/ˈɹɪŋɪŋ/
ringing is pronounced RING-ing (/ˈɹɪŋɪŋ/). Ringing is the present participle of ring, meaning producing or giving off a clear, resonant sound; it can also describe a bright, vivid sensation or signal that continues to reverberate after an action. In everyday use, it often modifies nouns to indicate ongoing sound, as in a bell ringing, or describes a sensation or alert that persists. The term can function adjectivally in contexts like “ringing endorsement.”.
Ringing is the present participle of ring, meaning producing or giving off a clear, resonant sound; it can also describe a bright, vivid sensation or signal that continues to reverberate after an action. In everyday use, it often modifies nouns to indicate ongoing sound, as in a bell ringing, or describes a sensation or alert that persists. The term can function adjectivally in contexts like “ringing endorsement.”
"The church bell was ringing in the valley at dawn."
"Her phone was ringing loudly, so she stepped outside."
"The alarm was still ringing in her ears even after the siren stopped."
Pronounce as /ˈrɪŋ.ɪŋ/. The first syllable carries primary stress. Start with the /r/ with a relaxed tongue, then /ɪ/ as in ‘kit’, followed by /ŋ/ as in ‘sing’, and end with a weak /ɪŋ/ vowel sound. Keep the tongue high and back for the /ɪ/ and gently release into a trailing /ŋ/ with a soft, nasal stop. You’ll notice a brief, light glide between syllables, but avoid inserting extra vowels.
Two common errors: (1) Misplacing the nasal /ŋ/ by finishing the first syllable with a hard /g/ instead of the velar nasal; ensure the first syllable ends with a nasal and no hard release. (2) Reducing the unstressed second syllable too aggressively, making it sound like /ɪŋ/ or /ɪn/; keep a full but quick /ɪŋ/ to preserve the word’s rhythm.
US, UK, and AU share /ˈrɪŋ.ɪŋ/, but rhoticity can affect surrounding vowels in connected speech and the /r/ quality. In US you’ll usually hear a clearer /ɹ/ onset; UK vowels may be slightly shorter before the alveolar nasal; AU tends to be non-rhotic in broad contexts, with subtle vowel centralization in fast speech. In careful speech, all three keep the two-syllable rhythm but minor vowel length and placement of the /ɪ/ may vary.
The challenge lies in the smooth, two-syllable sequence with a prominent velar nasal /ŋ/ immediately after /r/; the transition from /r/ to /ŋ/ requires precise tongue positioning without adding an extra vowel. Maintaining equal stress across both syllables and avoiding vowel reduction in the second syllable are common pitfalls. Mastery requires controlled airflow, precise tongue retraction for /ɹ/, and a quick, clean /ŋ/ release into the final /ɪŋ/.
Unlike many -ing forms, ringing features a strong, rounded onset with a crisp nasal closure on the first syllable. The second syllable is unstressed but must remain clearly audible (/ɪŋ/ rather than a reduced /ɪn/). This balance affects perceived clarity; you’ll want to avoid a dragging vowel in the second syllable and maintain a tight but relaxed mouth shape to prevent liaisons or extraneous sounds between syllables.
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Ringing derives from the verb ring, which in Old English was hringan, related to the Proto-Germanic hrinkanan and Proto-Indo-European root *ser- meaning to bend or turn, extended semantically to bell sound and echo. The sense of producing a clear, resonant sound emerged in Early Modern English as bell associations and alarm signals became more common in daily life. By the 14th century, ring (the sound) and ringing (the act) were used in contexts of bells, armor bells, and signaling devices. Through centuries, ringing broadened to metaphorical uses like “ringing endorsement” when something carries strong, unmistakable impact. The participle form is now standard for continuous or adjectival use in present participle phrases and compound adjectives.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "ringing" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "ringing"
-ing sounds
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