ding-dong

1 of 3

noun

ˈdiŋ-ˌdȯŋ 

-ˌdäŋ

1

: the ringing sound produced by repeated strokes especially on a bell

2

: nitwit, kook

ding-dong

2 of 3

verb

ding-donged; ding-donging; ding-dongs

intransitive verb

1

: to make a ding-dong sound

2

: to repeat a sound or action tediously or insistently

ding-dong

3 of 3

adjective

chiefly British

: marked by a rapid exchange or alternation (as of blows)

a ding-dong battle

Synonyms

Noun

• lunatic [informal]
• fool
• goose
• nut
• idiot
• maniac [informal]
• moron
• cuckoo

Examples of ding-dong in a Sentence

Noun

there's always one ding-dong in the tour group who wanders off and gets lost

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The spate of ding-dong-ditch killings has led some authorities to urge kids and teens not to do the prank at all. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2025

In 2020, three 16-year-olds were killed when a man rammed his car into their vehicle in retaliation for pulling a ding-dong-ditch prank on him. —Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025

In California, a 45-year-old man who ran down a group of ding-dong ditch pranksters, killing three teenagers, was sentenced in 2023 to life in prison. —Dennis Romero, NBC news, 1 Sep. 2025

Bomer is good when Jerry the ding-dong must navigate a moment of real sentiment or complication; the juxtaposition is effective. —Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025

That was a fantastically exciting ding-dong 2-2 — with Atletico missing a 99th penalty and eventually being eliminated from the Champions League after the group stage. —Dermot Corrigan, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025

Not a very productive interrogation … that is until there’s a ding-dong at the door. —Tom Smyth, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2024

Ditch the classic ding-dong and instead opt for a more holiday-appropriate sound, like a howl, a cackling witch, or other creepy sounds. —Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2024

The mess-up puts Jamie and Marian in the crosshairs of a local crime organization headed by a soft-spoken brute known only as the Chief (Colman Domingo), who enlists two thuggish ding-dongs to get the suitcase back. —Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

imitative

First Known Use

Noun

1611, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1659, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1869, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ding-dong

• agung
• along
• belong
• birdsong
• furlong
• headlong
• headstrong
• lifelong
• plainsong
• prolong
• sarong
• tanjong

Kids Definition

ding-dong

noun

ˈdiŋ-ˌdȯŋ,

-ˌdäŋ

: the ringing sound made by repeated strokes especially on a bell