verb
Uncommon
rang
Rang (verb) means past tense of ring — made a clear, resonant sound, or telephoned someone. Example: “The church bells rang out across the valley.”
verb
1
Past tense of ring — made a clear, resonant sound, or telephoned someone.
"The church bells rang out across the valley."
"She rang me last night to check I'd arrived safely."
"The doorbell rang twice, so I went to see who was there."
How to use rang
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe past-tense form of "ring," as in a bell ringing or a phone call being made.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "ranged" (past tense of range) or the noun "rang" used in Quebec French land surveying — that sense is extremely rare in English.
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Word forms
- Plural
- rangs
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The church bells _____ out across the valley.
Etymology
Borrowed from French rang.
Synonyms
View more →
telephoned
chimed
pealed
Rhymes for rang
See all rhymes for rang →Frequently asked questions
What does “rang” mean?
The word “rang” means past tense of ring — made a clear, resonant sound, or telephoned someone. In plain terms, the past-tense form of "ring," as in a bell ringing or a phone call being made.
How do you use “rang” in a sentence?
Here is “rang” used in a sentence: “The church bells rang out across the valley.”
What part of speech is “rang”?
“Rang” is a verb.
Is “rang” a common word?
“Rang” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between 'rang' and 'ringed'?
Rang is the correct past tense of ring when it means made a clear, resonant sound or telephoned someone, as in 'the bell rang' or 'she rang me yesterday.' Ringed is a different word, meaning encircled or surrounded, as in 'the city was ringed by hills.'
What is the past participle of ring, and how does it differ from rang?
The past participle of ring is rung, used with a helping verb such as have, as in 'the bell has rung.' Rang is the simple past tense used alone, as in 'the bell rang.'
Is 'rang' used for both sounds and phone calls?
Yes, rang covers both senses of ring in the past tense: making a clear, resonant sound, such as a bell ringing, and telephoning someone, such as saying 'she rang me last night.'
