jingle
Americanverb (used without object)
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jingles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
jingled,
past participle, past
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jingling
present participle
-
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)
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jingles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
jingled,
past participle, past
-
jingling
present participle
noun
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jingles
plural
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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
-
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
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A Good Kind of Trouble
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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.
See Examples For:
When asked whether she would ever consider switching brands, her reply is a reminder of an old Hindi ad jingle, "If it's salt, it has to be Tata."
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
With nearly seven million views on social media, the campaign jingle inspired by the Puerto Rican star calls on people not to "let go of the Brazilian flag."
From Barron's ● Sep. 29, 2026
But she walked offstage to a new jingle that went, “At my Tennessean Truck Stop, everyone belongs.”
From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026
Oregon and Pennsylvania also took the charity to court over the misleading jingle in 2009, resulting in a $130,000 fine and a requirement to disclose its affiliations in all advertisements.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 6, 2026
Little jingle bells chime as we walk into the office.
From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio
Revisit some of the show’s best jingles and parodies, appreciate Alec Baldwin’s singular performance as Jack Donaghy, and test your memory with this quiz.
From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026
His first success came with jingles for brands like State Farm — “Like a Good Neighbor” is his handiwork — and Band-Aid.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 27, 2026
In turn, an expanding roster of immersive, cinematic TV made the medium’s cheesy jingles and pandering copy look and sound discordant.
From Salon ● Apr. 25, 2026
In television interviews, his wife and nine children sang campaign jingles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 15, 2025
If Penny falls, Lidia scoops her up and hands her a toy with blinking lights or one that jingles; some toys do both, unfortunately.
From "They Both Die at the End" by Adam Silvera
Bells on their feet jingled as they moved in a circle.
From Seattle Times ● May 11, 2023
San Francisco International and Miami International Airports jingled with $52,558 and $47,694, respectively.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 23, 2020
Bert jingled his black change purse with a sly grin.
From The Guardian ● Dec. 28, 2018
Ms. Schlapp karate-chopped the table for emphasis, and the cutlery jingled.
From New York Times ● Apr. 30, 2018
He jingled his money in his pocket handkerchief, and looked for something small and inexpensive with which to amuse Daisy.
From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman
Some walkers carried jingling shells to mark their previous participation in another very long walk: the Camino de Santiago.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026
The bowler must ask the striker if he or she is ready and then yell "play" as the jingling ball is delivered underarm with at least one bounce.
From Barron's ● Nov. 22, 2025
As a member of the U.S. team, Alvaro Mora Arellano stations himself along the sideline, waiting for the jingling ball to come his way.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2024
In the end, it wasn’t the bell that signaled something was up, but the jingling of a court officer’s keys — a ring full of them clanking as Maj.
From Seattle Times ● May 30, 2024
“Water under the bridge,” Burnside says with a cheap wave of the hand, his retirement-earned gold watch and medical ID bracelet jingling together.
From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
