bang

The word “bang” means a sudden loud noise, such as an explosion or a hard impact. In plain terms, a loud sudden noise or hard impact — or, in the US, a fringe of hair.

“Bang” is pronounced BANG (/ˈbæŋ/ in IPA).

Here is “bang” used in a sentence: “The door slammed shut with a loud bang.”

Words with a similar meaning to “bang” include strike, blow, explosion, blam, boom and boom-boom.

The opposite of “bang” — its antonyms — are hang, humming and murmur.

Depending on how it is used, “bang” can be a noun and a verb.

The word “bang” comes from Old Norse. Probably from Old Norse banga, "to pound or hammer," describing a heavy striking action; the hairstyle sense developed separately from "bang off," meaning cut straight across.

“Bang” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

A "bang" is a sudden, sharp, loud noise like a gunshot or a slammed door, often high-pitched and resonant. A "thud" is a duller, heavier sound made by a soft or solid object hitting a surface, such as a book dropping onto carpet.

"Bang" is generally informal or neutral, common in everyday speech for both the noise ("a loud bang") and the action ("he banged the door"). In formal writing you might prefer "explosion," "impact," or "strike" depending on the meaning.

"Knock" usually means to strike firmly, often deliberately and rhythmically, as in "knock on the door." "Bang" implies more force and noise, suggesting hitting something hard or repeatedly, as in "banging on the door to be let in."