wring
to twist forcibly: He wrung the chicken's neck.
to twist and compress, or compress without twisting, in order to force out water or other liquid (often followed by out): to wring clothes.
to extract or expel by twisting or compression (usually followed by out or from).
to affect painfully by or as if by some contorting or compressing action.
to clasp tightly with or without twisting: to wring one's hands in pain.
to force (usually followed by off) by twisting.
to extract or get by forceful effort or means (often followed by out).
to perform the action of wringing something.
to writhe, as in anguish.
a wringing; forcible twist or squeeze.
Origin of wring
1Other words from wring
- outwring, verb (used with object), out·wrung, out·wring·ing.
Words that may be confused with wring
- ring, wring
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use wring in a sentence
Is there a more dreadful sensation than that of your stomach wringing itself out like a washcloth?
This is why there will not be much hand-wringing over the Archbishop of Canterbury confessing to doubting the existence of God.
UK’s No 1 Churchman Doubts Existence of God: The Archbishop of Canterbury Thinks Deep When Running With His Dog | Tim Teeman | September 18, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTBoth have elicited the same hand wringing and pearls clutching.
Dissed By Her Doctor for Wanting HIV Protection | Heather Boerner | September 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTSome artists were just happy to have their music out [but] the labels were just wringing their hands.
15 Years After Napster: How the Music Service Changed the Industry | Alex Suskind | June 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd really, there is no indication that he has one, at least not one worth wringing our hands over.
Justin Bieber: Not a Racist, But Is He Really a N*****? | John McWhorter | June 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Tressan fell suddenly to groaning and wringing his hands a pathetic figure had it been less absurd.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael SabatiniChildren who were going to bed heard the servant girls in the kitchen wringing their hands, and crying "God preserve us!"
Skipper Worse | Alexander Lange KiellandThere was only time for the picture—the tiny beast lying there and her owner wringing his hands.
The Amazing Interlude | Mary Roberts RinehartAnd, as a great many females were wringing their hands in France those days, he had gone away, rather sorry for her.
The Amazing Interlude | Mary Roberts RinehartShe tried a pantomime of washing her hands, but to the boy she had appeared to be merely wringing them.
The Amazing Interlude | Mary Roberts Rinehart
British Dictionary definitions for wring
/ (rɪŋ) /
(often foll by out) to twist and compress to squeeze (a liquid) from (cloth, etc)
(tr) to twist forcibly: wring its neck
(tr) to clasp and twist (one's hands), esp in anguish
(tr) to distress: wring one's heart
(tr) to grip (someone's hand) vigorously in greeting
(tr) to obtain by or as if by forceful means: wring information out of
(intr) to writhe with or as if with pain
wringing wet soaking; drenched
an act or the process of wringing
Origin of wring
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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