phone
noun
phone
1 American
[fohn]
/ foʊn /
noun
-
a portable electronic telephone device, as a cell phone, mobile phone, or smartphone.
verb (used with object)
-
phones,
present (3rd person singular)
-
phoned,
past participle, past
-
phoning
present participle
-
to speak to or summon (a person) by telephone.
-
to send (a message) by telephone.
verb (used without object)
-
phones,
present (3rd person singular)
-
phoned,
past participle, past
-
phoning
present participle
phone
2
American
[fohn]
/ foʊn /
noun
Phonetics.
-phone
3
American
-phone
1
British
combining form
-
(forming nouns) indicating voice, sound, or a device giving off sound
microphone
telephone
-
(forming nouns and adjectives) (a person) speaking a particular language
Francophone
phone
2
British
/ fəʊn /
noun
phone
3
British
/ fəʊn /
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
phonesimple
-
phonessimple
-
have phonedperfect
-
has phonedperfect
-
am phoningprogressive
-
are phoningprogressive
-
is phoningprogressive
-
have been phoningperfect progressive
-
has been phoningperfect progressive
Past
-
phonedsimple
-
had phonedperfect
-
was phoningprogressive
-
were phoningprogressive
-
had been phoningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of phone1
First recorded in 1880–85; by shortening
Origin of phone2
First recorded in 1865–70, phone is from the Greek word phōnḗ voice
Origin of -phone3
see origin at phone 2
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:
He said he had given his phone to his sister so she could keep in touch, but the mobile was no longer reachable.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
In a subsequent phone call, he apologized and said, “It’s easy to look at this from a policy standpoint and an economic standpoint, but it’s affecting real people on a massive scale.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
Richard Matus Jr. spoke to his 13-year-old daughter over the phone from a Riverside County jail the night before she started eighth grade and promised they’d talk after her first day.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 27, 2026
I tried it recently in my neighborhood supermarket and discovered, phone in hand, that a package of Earthbound Farm broccoli florets had a Taylor Farms connection I would otherwise never have known about.
From Salon ● Aug. 27, 2026
And they definitely mentioned the Fayetteville historic district, so Maggie takes her butt outside to the cellar, along with her phone, even though it’s almost dead.
From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith
How many non-computer or -phone devices can, in a pinch, be used for tweeting?
From Slate ● Aug. 15, 2019
Without the armies of aides, interns, and volunteers who answer phones in Capitol Hill offices, draft bills, and staff campaigns, lawmaking and reelection bids across the country would grind to a halt.
From Slate ● Aug. 27, 2026
It is similar to facial recognition technology on phones, but recognises important and often hidden anatomical structures instead.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
They skipped stairs as they ran between platforms, and found they could shave time at the turnstiles by switching from using their phones to physical cards.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026
At the institute, Wright participated in a work-study program — mopping floors, answering phones and interviewing other acting hopefuls to see if they had what it took to make it in the program.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 25, 2026
After swimming, Felix had hung out in Benji’s suite, eating room service and playing video games on their phones until after midnight.
From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty
Salonen was on the jury of the Gustav Mahler Conducting Competition that Dudamel won and phoned Borda from Bamberg, famously describing the boyish Dudamel as “a conducting animal.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
The vote proved too close to call on Tuesday evening, but by Wednesday morning, El-Sayed had claimed the win, and Stevens had phoned him to concede.
From Slate ● Aug. 5, 2026
He phoned into CNN’s “State of the Union” and NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday morning to share his memories of Graham.
From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026
Brian's sister, Allison Duncan, said that her brother - Brian's twin - had phoned her to say that Brian had died.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026
Fern phoned and got her Aunt Edith, and her Aunt Edith hollered for Uncle Homer, and Uncle Homer came in from the barn and talked to Fern.
From "Charlotte's Web" by E.B. White
"I'm instantly broke, panic attack, phoning GPs, back on medication, anxiety through the roof," Gerry said.
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
"It seems that constantly we're phoning the police or writing up incident reports," she said.
From BBC ● Jun. 20, 2026
People forget what shopping looked like before Amazon: flipping through glossy catalogs, mailing or phoning in orders and waiting weeks for delivery.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 31, 2026
At a pivotal point in “The Christophers,” Lori explains how she can see that Julian was phoning it in during his later series of the titular paintings.
From Salon ● Apr. 17, 2026
Mr. Winterbottom was in his study, phoning his wife’s friends to see if they had any idea of where she might have gone.
From "Walk Two Moons" by Sharon Creech
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.
