ringing

ringing — adjective

1. If a sound is ringing, it has a strong, bright, resonant quality similar to the

1.形容詞B2
釋義

If a sound is ringing, it has a strong, bright, resonant quality similar to the clear tone of a bell — it can be heard easily and often continues for a short moment after the source stops.

例句

A ringing bell woke the whole village before dawn.

ringing + bell (most common collocation)

Imani heard her grandmother's ringing laugh from the far end of the house.

同義詞
  • resonant

    emphasises richness and depth of sound rather than high pitch

  • clear

    less specific — can describe any sound that is easy to hear, not necessarily bell-like

  • sonorous

    more formal and literary; suggests a deep, full sound

反義詞
  • dull

    a dull sound is muffled and lacks clarity

  • muffled

    a muffled sound is hard to hear because something blocks it

文法句型

ringing + noun (attributive)

be + ringing (predicative)

用法筆記

Attributive use (before a noun) is far more common than predicative use. Typical collocates include 'bell', 'voice', 'laugh', 'tone', and 'sound'.

常見錯誤

❌The ringing alarm was so faint I almost missed it.
✅The beeping alarm was so faint I almost missed it.
💡'Ringing' describes a clear, resonant sound, not a soft or faint one; use 'beeping' or 'buzzing' for an alarm that CAN be faint.
❌His phone made a ringing noise like a car horn.
✅His phone made a loud noise like a car horn.
💡'Ringing' specifically refers to a high, clear, bell-like tone, which is different from the sound of a horn.

2. A ringing statement, promise, or vote expresses an opinion with such strength an

2.形容詞B2
釋義

A ringing statement, promise, or vote expresses an opinion with such strength and directness that the speaker's intention is completely clear and impossible to doubt.

例句

The mayor gave a ringing endorsement of the new hospital plan.

ringing endorsement (most common fixed phrase)

Camila's speech was a ringing call for fairness in public education.

同義詞
  • emphatic

    very close in meaning; describes an opinion expressed with strong emphasis

  • resounding

    often used with 'success' or 'victory'; suggests a result that is clearly decisive

  • unequivocal

    more formal; emphasises that something leaves no uncertainty

反義詞
  • half-hearted

    a half-hearted statement shows little energy or belief

  • vague

    a vague statement lacks the clear, direct quality of a ringing one

文法句型

ringing + noun (attributive only)

用法筆記

Almost exclusively used attributively before nouns of speech or opinion. The most frequent fixed phrase is 'ringing endorsement'. Other common collocates: 'declaration', 'denial', 'rebuke', 'condemnation'. Cannot be used predicatively (❌ 'His support was ringing').

常見錯誤

❌Her ringing answer was difficult to understand.
✅Her ringing answer left no room for doubt.
💡'Ringing' in this sense means strong and clear, so it contradicts 'difficult to understand'.
❌His support for the project was ringing.
✅He gave a ringing endorsement of the project.
💡'Ringing' is nearly always used before a noun, not after a linking verb.