beep

American  

[beep] / bip /

noun

1. a short, relatively high-pitched tone produced by a horn, electronic device, or the like as a signal, summons, or warning.

2. one of the periodic signals sounded by a beeper.

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verb (used without object)

1. to make or emit such a sound.

   When the timer beeps, take the cake out of the oven.

verb (used with object)

1. to sound (a horn, warning signal, etc.).

   impatient drivers beeping their horns.

2. to announce, warn, summon, etc., by beeping.

   The doctor was beeped to call the hospital.

beep British  

/ biːp /

noun

1. a short high-pitched sound, esp one made by the horn of a car, bicycle, etc, or by electronic apparatus

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verb

1. to make or cause to make such a noise

Other Word Forms

• beeper
  noun

Etymology

Origin of beep

First recorded in 1925–30; imitative

Explanation

A beep is a brief warning sound. You might give a quick beep on your car horn to let a bicyclist know you're passing her on the road. Your friend's voice mail might say, "Leave a message after the beep!" and your smoke alarm might emit an annoying series of beeps when its battery is dying. In either case, you'll hear a high-pitched, brief tone. The word is imitative — it sounds like what it means — and relatively new, only as old as the car horns it imitates. Beep was first an interjection in the 1920s, and a noun and a verb by the end of the decade.

Example Sentences

Moia has been testing vehicles and says it aims to launch services in Los Angeles through the Uber app and in Orlando through Beep in 2026.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

The group had successful albums and several chart smashes such as Beep, Stickwitu, Jai Ho! and When I Grow Up before eventually disbanding in 2010.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

Beep has not yet responded to a request for comment on the collision.

From Washington Times • Aug. 25, 2023

Even today, after Fellows paid a different trainer thousands of dollars, Beep and her child still can’t share the same room.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 11, 2023

The vehicles will be operated in "contained geo-fenced areas" where speed limits are 35 miles an hour or less, Hinrich Woebcken, advisory board member for Beep, a mobility service provider, said.

From Reuters • Feb. 14, 2022