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
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 result was fairly ridiculous: more like a greeting-card jingle than a poem by anyone over the age of 10.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
The frustratingly unforgettable Kars4kids jingle, which has been worming its way into listeners’ brains for decades, is officially banned from the airways in California.
From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026
The single opens with the sound of jingle bells being briskly rung.
From Salon • Dec. 23, 2025
Its catchy jingle, which builds to the tagline "Everyone Loves Marineland," was a staple on Canadian television.
From Barron's • Nov. 26, 2025
My mom comes out of the kitchen when she hears the bell on the door jingle.
From "The Benefits of Being an Octopus" by Ann Braden
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.
