noun · verb · 35 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
General-American, Received-Pronunciation:rĭng
General-American, Received-Pronunciation:/ɹɪŋ/
General-American:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Midlands, Northern-England:/ˈɹɪŋɡ/without the NG-coalescence
rhymes with -ɪŋ
homophone: ring
CMU ARPABET:R IH1 NG
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
A powerful squeezing or twisting action.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: also, figuratively
Examples
I grasped his hand and gave it a grateful wring.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Followed by down: the product of wringing, such as cider or wine.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
A sharp physical pain, especially in the abdomen; also, mental pain or distress.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
A device for compressing or pressing, especially for making cheese, cider from apples, or wine from grapes.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: press
Antonyms: none provided
5
verb
Meaning 5
Often followed by out: to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Examples
I didn’t have a towel so I just wrung my hair dry.
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: wound, wrench, abuse, annoy, bewound, damage, damnify, dere, do damage to, do for, do ill, do violence to, forwork, grieve, harm, harrow, hurt, injure, maul, mayhem, misdo, put someone in hospital, scaith, scathe, vulnerate, wet
Antonyms: none provided
15
verb
Meaning 15
To cause (tears) to come out from a person or their eyes.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
16
verb
Meaning 16
To cause distress or pain to (a person or their heart, soul, etc.); to distress, to torment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Partly: * from Middle English wring, wringe (“twisting or wringing (of the neck)”), from Middle English wringen, wryngen (verb); and * from the modern English verb. See further at etymology 1.
From Middle English wring, wringe, wrynge (“a press, especially for olives or wine”) [and other forms], from Old English wringe, from wringan (verb): see further at etymology 1.
From Middle English wring, wringe, wringen, wryng, wrynge, wryngen, wryngyn, from Old English wringan (“to wring”), from Proto-Germanic *wringaną (“to squeeze, twist, wring”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *wrenǵh- (“to squeeze, wring”). Cognates Cognate with Scots wring (“to wring”), Saterland Frisian wringe (“to wring”), Dutch wringen (“to wring; to wrest; to writhe”), German ringen (“to wrestle; to struggle; to wring”), wringen (“to wring”), Luxembourgish réngen (“to grapple, wrestle”); also Ancient Greek ῥίμφα (rhímpha, “fast, nimbly, rapidly”), Lithuanian rangýti (“to roll up; to curl, twist, wave”).
Across languages
Translations
114 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Finnish:
vääntö
— powerful squeezing or twisting action
Finnish:
puristettu neste
— product of wringing
Armenian:
քամել
(kʻamel)
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Bashkir:
һығыу
(hığıw)
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Bulgarian:
изстисквам
(izstiskvam)
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Bulgarian:
изцеждам чрез извиване
(izceždam črez izvivane)
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Catalan:
esprémer
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Catalan:
escórrer
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Chinese Mandarin:
絞 /绞
(jiǎo)
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Chinese Mandarin:
擰 /拧
(níng)
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Chinese Mandarin:
扭
(niǔ)
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Czech:
ždímat
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Danish:
vride
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Dutch:
uitwringen
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Egyptian:
i-a:f
(jꜥf)
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Esperanto:
premtordi
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Esperanto:
vringi
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Finnish:
vääntää
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
French:
essorer
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Friulian:
stuargi
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Galician:
espremer
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
German:
wringen
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
German:
auswringen
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Greek:
στείβω
(steívo)
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Greek:
στραγγίζω
(strangízo)
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Hebrew:
סחט
(sakhát)
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Hungarian:
kinyom
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Hungarian:
kicsavar
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Indonesian:
peras
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Italian:
spremere
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Japanese:
絞る
(shiboru)
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Khmer:
ច្បាច់
(cbac)
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Khmer:
ពូត
(puut)
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Latvian:
griezt
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Manx:
faast
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Māori:
tatau
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Mongolian:
мушгих
(mušgix)
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Mongolian:
ᠮᠤᠰᠭᠢᠬᠤ
(musɣiqu)
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Norman:
teurtre
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Norwegian Bokmål:
vri
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Norwegian Nynorsk:
vri
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Persian:
چلاندن
(čelândan)
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Polish:
wyżymać
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Polish:
wyżąć
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Portuguese:
torcer
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Rarotongan:
tatau
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Romanian:
stoarce
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Russian:
выжима́ть
(vyžimátʹ)
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Russian:
вы́жать
(výžatʹ)
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Russian:
выкру́чивать
(vykrúčivatʹ)
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Russian:
вы́крутить
(výkrutitʹ)
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Samoan:
tatau
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Scottish Gaelic:
snìomh
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Serbo-Croatian:
исције́дити
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Serbo-Croatian:
iscijéditi
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Spanish:
exprimir
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Spanish:
retorcer
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Spanish:
escurrir
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Spanish:
estrujar
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Spanish:
lagarear
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Swedish:
vrida ur
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Tongan:
tatau
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Tuamotuan:
tau
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Vietnamese:
vắt
— to squeeze or twist (something moist) tightly so that liquid is forced out
Finnish:
puristaa
— to squeeze water from (an item of wet clothing) by passing through a wringer
Hungarian:
facsar
— to extract (a liquid) from something wet by squeezing, twisting, or otherwise putting pressure on it
Hungarian:
kifacsar
— to extract (a liquid) from something wet by squeezing, twisting, or otherwise putting pressure on it
Hungarian:
kisajtol
— to extract (a liquid) from something wet by squeezing, twisting, or otherwise putting pressure on it
Bulgarian:
стискам
(stiskam)
— to hold (someone or something) tightly and press or twist
Bulgarian:
извивам врата
(izvivam vrata)
— to hold (someone or something) tightly and press or twist
Catalan:
retòrcer
— to hold (someone or something) tightly and press or twist
Catalan:
retorçar
— to hold (someone or something) tightly and press or twist
Danish:
vride
— to hold (someone or something) tightly and press or twist
Dutch:
wringen
— to hold (someone or something) tightly and press or twist
Finnish:
vääntää niskat nurin
— to hold (someone or something) tightly and press or twist
Galician:
retorcer
— to hold (someone or something) tightly and press or twist
Indonesian:
remas
— to hold (someone or something) tightly and press or twist
Māori:
kōwiri
— to hold (someone or something) tightly and press or twist
Māori:
tāwhiri
— to hold (someone or something) tightly and press or twist
Portuguese:
torcer
— to hold (someone or something) tightly and press or twist
Russian:
сжима́ть
(sžimátʹ)
— to hold (someone or something) tightly and press or twist
Russian:
сжать
(sžatʹ)
— to hold (someone or something) tightly and press or twist
Scottish Gaelic:
snìomh
— to hold (someone or something) tightly and press or twist
Spanish:
retorcer
— to hold (someone or something) tightly and press or twist
Spanish:
despescuezar
— to hold (someone or something) tightly and press or twist
Spanish:
espescuezar
— to hold (someone or something) tightly and press or twist
Ottoman Turkish:
بورمق
(burmak)
— to hold (someone or something) tightly and press or twist
Ottoman Turkish:
بوكمك
(bükmek)
— to hold (someone or something) tightly and press or twist
Finnish:
väännellä
— to clasp and twist (hands) together due to distress, sorrow, etc.
Finnish:
vääntää
— to contort or screw up (the face or its features)
Finnish:
puristaa
— of a thing (such as footwear): to pinch or press (a person or part of their body), causing pain
Finnish:
ahdistaa
— of a thing (such as footwear): to pinch or press (a person or part of their body), causing pain
Romanian:
bate
— of a thing (such as footwear): to pinch or press (a person or part of their body), causing pain
Finnish:
vääntää
— to cause (tears) to come out from a person or their eyes
Bashkir:
һығыу
(hığıw)
— to obtain (something) from or out of a person or thing by extortion or other force
Bashkir:
һығып алыу
(hığıp alıw)
— to obtain (something) from or out of a person or thing by extortion or other force
Bashkir:
тартып алыу
(tartıp alıw)
— to obtain (something) from or out of a person or thing by extortion or other force
Bulgarian:
изтръгвам
(iztrǎgvam)
— to obtain (something) from or out of a person or thing by extortion or other force
Catalan:
esprémer
— to obtain (something) from or out of a person or thing by extortion or other force
Dutch:
afpersen
— to obtain (something) from or out of a person or thing by extortion or other force
Finnish:
puristaa
— to obtain (something) from or out of a person or thing by extortion or other force
Galician:
espremer
— to obtain (something) from or out of a person or thing by extortion or other force
Hebrew:
סָחַט
(saẖát)
— to obtain (something) from or out of a person or thing by extortion or other force
Portuguese:
arrancar
— to obtain (something) from or out of a person or thing by extortion or other force
Russian:
выжима́ть
(vyžimátʹ)
— to obtain (something) from or out of a person or thing by extortion or other force
Russian:
вы́жать
(výžatʹ)
— to obtain (something) from or out of a person or thing by extortion or other force
Russian:
вымога́ть
(vymogátʹ)
— to obtain (something) from or out of a person or thing by extortion or other force
Serbo-Croatian:
исције́дити
— to obtain (something) from or out of a person or thing by extortion or other force
Serbo-Croatian:
iscijéditi
— to obtain (something) from or out of a person or thing by extortion or other force
Spanish:
exprimir
— to obtain (something) from or out of a person or thing by extortion or other force
Swedish:
tvinga
— to obtain (something) from or out of a person or thing by extortion or other force
Finnish:
imeyttää
— to slide (two ultraflat surfaces) together such that their faces bond
Finnish:
vääntyä
— to be engaged in clasping and twisting (especially the hands), or exerting pressure
Finnish:
väännellä
— to experience distress, pain, punishment, etc.
