noun
Uncommon
bingo
BIHNG-goh
Bingo (noun) means a game in which players mark off numbers on a card as they are called out, winning by completing a line or the whole card. Example: “Grandma plays bingo at the community hall every Friday.”
noun
1
A game in which players mark off numbers on a card as they are called out, winning by completing a line or the whole card.
"He plays bingo with his family on Saturdays."
"Grandma plays bingo at the community hall every Friday."
intj
1
Used to declare a win in the game of bingo, or more generally to announce sudden success or that something has been found or understood.
"I tried a different password and — bingo! — it worked."
How to use bingo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe numbers game, or an exclamation of sudden success.
Common pairings
play bingo
bingo hall
bingo!
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like bingo.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- bingos
- Third person singular
- bingos
- Past tense
- bingoed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Grandma plays _____ at the community hall every Friday.
Etymology
Likely an altered form of "bing," imitating the ringing sound of a bell; recorded as the name of the game since the 1920s.
Class of 1920
bingo joined the language around 1920.
See the full Class of 1920 →
Related words
Rhymes for bingo
See all rhymes for bingo →Frequently asked questions
What does “bingo” mean?
The word “bingo” means a game in which players mark off numbers on a card as they are called out, winning by completing a line or the whole card. In plain terms, the numbers game, or an exclamation of sudden success.
How do you pronounce “bingo”?
“Bingo” is pronounced BIHNG-goh (/ˈbɪŋ.ɡoʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “bingo” in a sentence?
Here is “bingo” used in a sentence: “Grandma plays bingo at the community hall every Friday.”
What part of speech is “bingo”?
Depending on how it is used, “bingo” can be a noun and an intj.
Where does the word “bingo” come from?
The word “bingo” dates back to around 1920. Likely an altered form of "bing," imitating the ringing sound of a bell; recorded as the name of the game since the 1920s.
Is “bingo” a common word?
“Bingo” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “bingo” have?
“Bingo” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a game in which players mark off numbers on a card as they are called out, winning by completing a line or the whole card.
What is the difference between saying bingo and saying eureka?
Both bingo and eureka are used to announce sudden success or understanding, but bingo has a casual, everyday tone drawn from the game, while eureka carries a more dramatic, celebratory tone associated with discovery. Bingo is more common in relaxed conversation.
How is bingo played as a game?
Bingo is played by marking off numbers on a card as they are called out, with players winning by completing a line or the entire card. It is typically played in groups, with a caller announcing numbers at random.
Why do people say bingo outside of the game?
People say bingo outside the game to announce that something has been found, understood, or achieved, similar to shouting a win, using the word's exclamatory sense rather than its meaning as the game itself.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include bingo:
