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• phone
  phone

  noun

  telephone.
• -phone
  -phone

  a combining form meaning “speech sound” (homophone ), “an instrument of sound transmission or reproduction” (telephone ), “a musical instrument” (saxophone; xylophone ).

phone

¹ American  

[fohn] / foʊn /

noun

1. telephone.

2. a portable electronic telephone device, as a cell phone, mobile phone, or smartphone.

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verb (used with object)

• phones,
  present (3rd person singular)
• phoned,
  past participle,  past
• phoning
  present participle

1. to speak to or summon (a person) by telephone.

2. to send (a message) by telephone.

verb (used without object)

• phones,
  present (3rd person singular)
• phoned,
  past participle,  past
• phoning
  present participle

1. to send a message by telephone.

phone ² American  

[fohn] / foʊn /

noun

Phonetics.

1. a speech sound.

   There are three phonetically different “t” phones in an utterance of “titillate,” and two in an utterance of “tattletale.”

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-phone ³ American  

1. a combining form meaning “speech sound” (homophone ), “an instrument of sound transmission or reproduction” (telephone ), “a musical instrument” (saxophone; xylophone ).

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-phone ¹ British  

combining form

1. (forming nouns) indicating voice, sound, or a device giving off sound

   microphone

   telephone

2. (forming nouns and adjectives) (a person) speaking a particular language

   Francophone

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phone ² British  

/ fəʊn /

noun

1. short for telephone

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phone ³ British  

/ fəʊn /

noun

1. phonetics a single uncomplicated speech sound

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• phonal
  adjective
• -phonic
  combining form

Inflected Forms

Participles

• phoning
  present
• phoned
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• phone
  simple
• phones
  simple
• have phoned
  perfect
• has phoned
  perfect
• am phoning
  progressive
• are phoning
  progressive
• is phoning
  progressive
• have been phoning
  perfect progressive
• has been phoning
  perfect progressive

Past

• phoned
  simple
• had phoned
  perfect
• was phoning
  progressive
• were phoning
  progressive
• had been phoning
  perfect progressive

Future

• will phone
  simple
• will have phoned
  perfect
• will be phoning
  progressive
• will have been phoning
  perfect progressive

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

See Examples For:

phone -phone phones phoned phoning

Even if someone steals or guesses your password, they can’t access your camera without an extra code sent to your phone or email, or supplied by an authentication app.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026

One in seven properties in Wales is classed as being at risk of flooding, but NRW said just 27% of those eligible to receive flood warnings to their phone or email were currently signed up.

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

I’m excited to open up my phone and find out.

From Slate ● Oct. 11, 2026

She pulled out her phone to show me some of her work, which included garments she’d fashioned out of Trader Joe’s tote bags.

From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026

“It’s not, but . . .” I glance at the time on my phone and groan.

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

“We answer our phones all day long and return client calls usually the same day. We are always calling our clients back as much as possible,” Byrd said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026

But chatbots and agents and other tasks may increasingly be handled on PCs and phones and smart glasses and whatever new gizmos Silicon Valley invents over the next decade.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026

While the mobile phone itself remains the single indispensable device, at least for now, the networks that connect those phones have remained relatively predictable.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

The change in shipping levels this month will affect some but not all suppliers of the phones, according to the publication.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 9, 2026

We’re not allowed to use our phones in school, but we’ve got two computers to work on here.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

Ortiz said she phoned Lisinski Law for help to fight the removal proceedings, which the firm declined.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026

"They phoned the airbase police, who didn't answer the phone. It just rang out so she dialled 999," he told the BBC.

From Barron's ● Sep. 27, 2026

As I was leaving my apartment that morning, my father phoned me.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 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

Dad phoned Mrs. de Roo to say that given my “annual tendency to relapse,” he thought extra “homework” was appropriate.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

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

Kruyer says this used to involve hours of phoning around.

From BBC ● Mar. 4, 2026

When he wasn’t there, we were phoning every day.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 16, 2026

I did some more eavesdropping and heard Detective Inspector Pearce saying, ‘It could have been anyone phoning, Gloria. Not necessarily Salim. Anyone who had found or borrowed his phone.’

From "The London Eye Mystery" by Siobhan Dowd

Related Words

• call up
• contact
• dial