jingle
Americanverb (used without object)
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to make clinking or tinkling sounds, as do coins, keys, or other light, resonant metal objects when coming into contact or being struck together repeatedly.
The keys on his belt jingled as he walked.
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to move or proceed with such sounds.
The sleigh, decorated with bells, jingled along the snowy road.
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to sound in a light, repetitious manner suggestive of this, as verse, a sequence of words, or piece of music.
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to make rhymes.
verb (used with object)
noun
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a tinkling or clinking sound, as of small bells or of small pieces of resonant metal repeatedly struck one against another.
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something that makes such a sound, as a small bell or a metal pendant.
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a catchy succession of like or repetitious sounds, as in music or verse.
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a piece of verse or a short song having such a catchy succession of sounds, usually of a light or humorous character.
an advertising jingle.
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Irish English and Australian. a loosely sprung, two-wheeled, roofed carriage, usually used as a hackney coach.
verb
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to ring or cause to ring lightly and repeatedly
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(intr) to sound in a manner suggestive of jingling
a jingling verse
noun
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a sound of metal jingling
the jingle of the keys
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a catchy and rhythmic verse, song, etc, esp one used in advertising
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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jinglesimple
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jinglessimple
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have jingledperfect
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has jingledperfect
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am jinglingprogressive
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are jinglingprogressive
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is jinglingprogressive
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have been jinglingperfect progressive
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has been jinglingperfect progressive
Past
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jingledsimple
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had jingledperfect
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was jinglingprogressive
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were jinglingprogressive
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had been jinglingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of jingle
1350–1400; Middle English gynglen, apparently imitative; compare Dutch jengelen; see -le
Explanation
To jingle is to make a sound like pieces of metal jangling together, like those bells people sing about at Christmas. A jingle is also a funny little poem or song. Have you ever heard a dog's metal tags banging together? That sound is called a jingle. A jingle is a metallic sound — a cowboy's spurs and a set of keys being shaken both jingle. If you drop a bunch of change on the ground, it will jingle. A jingle is also a bit of comic poetry, like a little song. Jingles are often made as advertisements because they tend to be catchy.
Vocabulary lists containing jingle
Metaphors from Top AP English Exam Novels
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A Good Kind of Trouble
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And Then, Boom!
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The first time I spoke to him in 2017, I was a student in journalism college, covering Capital Radio’s Jingle Bell Ball.
From BBC • Oct. 17, 2024
You either have seen the movie or lived long enough to hear its jokes, use its gifs or recognize its most iconic talent show routine, the tantalizing "Jingle Bell Rock" number.
From Salon • Jan. 5, 2024
The 2023 Jingle Ball show has been touring the U.S. since the beginning of December, but if you’d rather cozy up on the couch to watch instead of filing into an arena, you’re in luck.
From New York Times • Dec. 18, 2023
In fact, Lil Wayne prevented a third album delay by replacing Minaj as a performer at this year’s KIIS-FM Jingle Ball, she wrote in a Dec. 3 X post.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2023
He went over to Jingle Boy and patted him on the neck.
From "Elijah of Buxton" by Christopher Paul Curtis
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
