English · Word Candidate

ping

/pɪŋ/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: pings · pinging · pinged · pang

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A high-pitched, short and somewhat sharp sound.

Noun

My car used to make an odd ping, but after the last oil change it went away.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

A pulse of high-pitched or ultrasonic sound whose echoes provide information about nearby objects and vessels.

Noun

The submarine sent out a ping and got an echo from a battleship.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

To make a high-pitched, short and somewhat sharp sound.

Verb

My car was pinging until my last oil change.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Meaning · English

To emit a signal and then listen for its echo in order to detect objects.

Verb

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

What does “ping” mean?

A high-pitched, short and somewhat sharp sound.

Is “ping” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.