tinkled; tinkling
ˈtiŋ-k(ə-)liŋ 
1
: to sound or make known (the time) by a tinkle
2
a
: to cause to make a tinkle
b
: to produce by tinkling
tinkle a tune
1
: a series of short high ringing or clinking sounds
2
: a jingling effect in verse or prose
Examples of tinkle in a Sentence
Verb
The ice tinkled in the glass.
A piano was tinkling in the background.
He tinkled a small bell.
Noun
the soothing tinkle of the wind chime on the back porch
Recent Examples on the Web
Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2025
The herds are decked out in crowns of flowers, and the air will be noisy, full of tinkling bells as the cattle trudge down from the higher Alpine pastures to the lower stretches of greenery in and around this town.
—AFAR Media, 4 Aug. 2025
David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2025
The water fountains are trickling; wind chimes tinkle and shimmer in the breeze, and the store’s seemingly endless lines of indoor and outdoor décor are available to celebrate each season and occasion.
—Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tinkle
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Verb
The soothing, deeply resonant humming of the bowls and sparkling tinkling of chimes filled the room.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 12 Aug. 2025
The herds are decked out in crowns of flowers, and the air will be noisy, full of tinkling bells as the cattle trudge down from the higher Alpine pastures to the lower stretches of greenery in and around this town.
—AFAR Media, 4 Aug. 2025
Noun
From the moment that Jerry Goldsmith’s piano tinkles caress the opening bars of his score while stars float past the frame, anyone with a soul knows that this is not your average IP cash-in.
—David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2025
The water fountains are trickling; wind chimes tinkle and shimmer in the breeze, and the store’s seemingly endless lines of indoor and outdoor décor are available to celebrate each season and occasion.
—Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for tinkle
Cite this Entry
“Tinkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tinkle. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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