beep

1 of 2

verb

ˈbēp 

beeped; beeping; beeps

transitive verb

1

: to cause to sound

beep a horn

2

: to send a message to (someone) with a beeper

Dr. Khoury was beeped to perform an emergency operation at American University Hospital.

—Scot Macleod

intransitive verb

1

: to sound a horn

2

: to make a beep

beep

2 of 2

noun

: a short usually high-pitched sound (as from a horn or an electronic device) that serves as a signal or warning

Examples of beep in a Sentence

Verb

Why did you beep your horn at her?

She beeped at me first.

Something is beeping in the kitchen.

I could hear a beeping noise.

Noun

the beep of a car horn

Please leave a message after the beep.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

After the machine beeped, the pot was filled with a rich 75-degree-Fahrenheit liquid that barely melted the ice it was poured over, eschewing any bitter notes caused by shocking the brew in ice for a smooth cup with mild grassy notes and the beans' signature wine-y aftertaste. —Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 6 Dec. 2024

Some of the systems even beep the horn and roll down windows if the driver ignores the alert. —Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 30 Nov. 2024

Noun

One beep meant the huddle broke; two beeps meant the quarterback was ready for the play to begin. —Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Dec. 2024

Using beep baseball the players work with audio cues and unique equipment. —Jeryl Brunner, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

from beep-beep, imitative of the sound of a horn, or verbal derivative of beep entry 2

Noun

earlier beep-beep, imitative of the sound of a horn

First Known Use

Verb

1933, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1943, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

beep

noun

ˈbēp

: a sound that signals or warns

beep verb