verb
wring
rihng
Wring (verb) means to twist and squeeze something, especially wet fabric, to force liquid out of it. Example: “She wrung out the wet towel over the sink.”
verb
1
To twist and squeeze something, especially wet fabric, to force liquid out of it.
"She wrung out the wet towel over the sink."
2
To twist and clasp the hands together from distress or anxiety.
"He wrung his hands nervously while waiting for the results."
3
To obtain something with difficulty or by applying pressure, such as forcing out a confession.
"The journalist finally wrung a confession out of the suspect."
How to use wring
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo twist something tightly to squeeze liquid out, or to forcefully extract something (like information) with pressure.
Common mistake
"Wring" and "ring" are homophones — don't confuse "wring your hands" with "ring your hands".
Common pairings
wring out a cloth
wring one's hands
wring a confession
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Word forms
- Plural
- wrings
- Third person singular
- wrings
- Past tense
- wrung, wrang, wringed
- Archaic forms
- wringest, wringedst, wringeth
Etymology
From Old English wringan, "to squeeze, twist" — related to German ringen ("to wrestle, struggle").
Related words
Rhymes for wring
See all rhymes for wring →Frequently asked questions
What does “wring” mean?
The word “wring” means to twist and squeeze something, especially wet fabric, to force liquid out of it. In plain terms, to twist something tightly to squeeze liquid out, or to forcefully extract something (like information) with pressure.
How do you pronounce “wring”?
“Wring” is pronounced rihng (/ɹɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “wring” in a sentence?
Here is “wring” used in a sentence: “She wrung out the wet towel over the sink.”
What part of speech is “wring”?
“Wring” is a verb.
Where does the word “wring” come from?
The word “wring” comes from Old English. From Old English wringan, "to squeeze, twist" — related to German ringen ("to wrestle, struggle").
How many meanings does “wring” have?
“Wring” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to twist and squeeze something, especially wet fabric, to force liquid out of it.
