clang

American  

[klang] / klæŋ /

verb (used without object)

• clangs,
  present (3rd person singular)
• clanged,
  past participle,  past
• clanging
  present participle

1. to give out a loud, resonant sound, as that produced by a large bell or two heavy pieces of metal striking together.

   The bells clanged from the steeples.

   Synonyms:

   jangle, clank, din, clash

2. to move with such sounds.

   The old truck clanged down the street.

---

verb (used with object)

• clangs,
  present (3rd person singular)
• clanged,
  past participle,  past
• clanging
  present participle

1. to cause to resound or ring loudly.

noun

• clangs
  plural

1. a clanging sound.

clang British  

/ klæŋ /

verb

1. to make or cause to make a loud resounding noise, as metal when struck

2. (intr) to move or operate making such a sound

---

noun

1. a resounding metallic noise

2. the harsh cry of certain birds

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• clangs
  plural

Participles

• clanging
  present
• clanged
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• clang
  simple
• clangs
  simple
• have clanged
  perfect
• has clanged
  perfect
• am clanging
  progressive
• are clanging
  progressive
• is clanging
  progressive
• have been clanging
  perfect progressive
• has been clanging
  perfect progressive

Past

• clanged
  simple
• had clanged
  perfect
• was clanging
  progressive
• were clanging
  progressive
• had been clanging
  perfect progressive

Future

• will clang
  simple
• will have clanged
  perfect
• will be clanging
  progressive
• will have been clanging
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of clang

First recorded in 1570–80, clang is from the Latin word clangere to resound, clang

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

clang clangs clanged clanging

In a clip posted on Instagram, the German relay team are jumping up and down in celebration when suddenly Strelow's bronze medal comes loose and a metallic clang echoes through the room.

From Barron's ● Feb. 9, 2026

The young trio’s minimalist arrangements evoke the clang of downtown post-punk New York, while the new collection’s sly humor and deep well of hooks helped the dissonant turns go down easily.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 25, 2025

The first American pope has been a font of endless, odd connections to the New World that clang against the public perception of the ancient Catholic Church.

From Salon ● Jun. 18, 2025

But what if those bells are right outside your bedroom window day and night, and rather than tinkle gently, clang loudly around the necks of 20 or 30 cows?

From BBC ● Nov. 2, 2023

The iron shrieks through the air and comes down with a loud clang about thirty feet away.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

MPs may find the clangs irritating but they should be grateful they weren't working in the Canadian Parliament in the 1980s.

From BBC ● Feb. 17, 2024

Looking for a muse, the 26-year-old found one in the clangs, hisses and whistles of a train trip to Boston.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 14, 2024

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — The clangs of the men’s chisels and hammers were deafening as they dismantled a rusty truck, the din only fading as it reached the dense forest encircling them.

From New York Times ● Jul. 10, 2022

It’s a fun, loose record stuffed with twisting and vibrating electronics that shifts tonally from pop-heavy melodies to erratic heavy clangs, as Smith’s voice wriggles around from gargled snarl to smoothed-out croon.

From The Guardian ● Mar. 25, 2020

A couple of clangs, and, slowly, we begin to move.

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Pots clanged and oil sizzled inside the London kitchen of Syrian chef Imad Alarnab, as the former refugee who fled his country's civil war recalled hosting King Charles III.

From Barron's ● Mar. 2, 2026

When the ball clanged off the bright yellow pole, Judge raised his right hand toward the sky and tossed his bat to the ground, as bedlam erupted all around him.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2025

The ball clanged off the front rim, appearing short — until backspin carried it to the back iron for a second bounce.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2025

Jason Heyward turned on a 100 mph fastball and clanged it off the Roberto Clemente Wall for a double in the second inning.

From Seattle Times ● Jun. 5, 2024

Just then the school bell clanged recess to an end and C.P. heard the two boys at the top of the stairs give a final snicker before tearing off.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

The rhythmic clanging of hammers on bronze echoes through the Istanbul workshop where three craftsmen are landing blows with astonishing precision to transform featureless metal discs into highly prized handcrafted cymbals.

From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026

Yet, Fire Island as a concept produces nothing more than a toy monkey clanging its cymbals in my brain.

From Salon ● Jun. 18, 2026

Ollie Chessum, brought in for his heft, delivered in spades, scoring two tries, laying on a deft pass for Alex Coles' score and clanging about in close combat.

From BBC ● Mar. 14, 2026

The closing number, “Match-Lit,” features a moody production with a clanging snare drum and bits of pedal-steel guitar.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 30, 2025

The bell was clanging, banging away at her dully aching head.

From "Lyddie" by Katherine Paterson