ding-dong

1 of 3

noun

ˈdiŋ-ˌdȯŋ 

-ˌdäŋ

1

: the ringing sound produced by repeated strokes especially on a bell

2

: nitwit, kook

ding-dong

2 of 3

verb

ding-donged; ding-donging; ding-dongs

intransitive verb

1

: to make a ding-dong sound

2

: to repeat a sound or action tediously or insistently

ding-dong

3 of 3

adjective

chiefly British

: marked by a rapid exchange or alternation (as of blows)

a ding-dong battle

Synonyms

Noun

• berk [British]
• booby
• charlie [British]
• charley
• cuckoo
• ding-a-ling
• dingbat
• dipstick
• doofus [slang]
• featherhead
• fool
• git [British]
• goose
• half-wit
• jackass
• lunatic
• mooncalf
• nincompoop
• ninny
• ninnyhammer
• nit [chiefly British]
• nitwit
• nut
• nutcase
• simp
• simpleton
• turkey
• yo-yo

Examples of ding-dong in a Sentence

Noun

there's always one ding-dong in the tour group who wanders off and gets lost

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Not a very productive interrogation … that is until there’s a ding-dong at the door. —Tom Smyth, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2024

Ditch the classic ding-dong and instead opt for a more holiday-appropriate sound, like a howl, a cackling witch, or other creepy sounds. —Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2024

Up on the quite lush chopping block in season three is, appropriately, sibling No. 3, traveling ding-dong Colin. —Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 16 May 2024

The mess-up puts Jamie and Marian in the crosshairs of a local crime organization headed by a soft-spoken brute known only as the Chief (Colman Domingo), who enlists two thuggish ding-dongs to get the suitcase back. —Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

imitative

First Known Use

Noun

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1659, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1869, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ding-dong

noun

ˈdiŋ-ˌdȯŋ,

-ˌdäŋ

: the ringing sound made by repeated strokes especially on a bell