1
a
: a hollow metallic device that gives off a reverberating sound when struck
b
: doorbell
2
a
: the sounding of a bell as a signal
b
: a stroke of a bell (as on shipboard) to indicate the time
also
: the time so indicated
c
: a half hour period of a watch on shipboard indicated by the strokes of a bell see Ship's Bells Table
3
: something having the form of a bell: such as
a
: the corolla of a flower
b
: a bell-shaped organ or part (such as the dewlap of a moose)
especially
: the bell- or saucer-shaped, largely gelatinous structure that forms the main part of the body of most jellyfish : umbrella entry 1 sense 3
c
: the part of the capital of a column between the abacus and neck molding
d
: the flared end of a wind instrument
e
: the open mouth of a nozzle (such as of the exhaust of a jet engine)
The heating was so intense … that the gas went rushing out the tail of the engine at 30,000 feet per second, or twice the speed at which exhaust leaves the bell of a conventional engine.—
Jeffrey Kluger
Jeffrey Kluger4
a
: a percussion instrument consisting of metal bars or tubes that when struck give out tones resembling bells
—usually used in plural
b
belled; belling; bells
1
: to provide with a bell
2
: to flare the end of (something, such as a tube) into the shape of a bell
: to take the form of a bell : flare
belled; belling; bells
: to make a resonant bellowing or baying sound
the wild buck bells from ferny brake—Sir Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott
Phrases
get/have one's bell rung
US and Canada, sports, informal
: to be hit on the head : to suffer a concussion
He had his bell rung on a blitz, and a short time later he was taken to Divine Providence Hospital.—Ralph Wiley
Ralph Wiley
British, informal
: to make a telephone call to
Maybe Cowell can give him a bell towards the end of his marathon broadcast—that would certainly wake him up.—Mark Jefferies
Mark Jefferies
: to do a daring or risky deed
Examples of bell in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Aaron Marcavitch, Hartford Courant, 8 June 2025
For decades, the lighthouse's keeper rang bells during foggy conditions but also maintained a log of the river's conditions — and, at times, rescued people in distress, according to the Journal News, part of the USA TODAY Network.
—Michael P. McKinney, USA Today, 7 June 2025
Continue reading … 'CONCERNING' – Former top Hochul aide's unearthed family connections to CCP raises alarm bells.
—FOXNews.com, 6 June 2025
While the household survey tends to have more volatility, May’s readings from that particular wing of the report rang more alarm bells than usual.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bell
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
In states like Pennsylvania, similar alarm bells are already sounding.
—Aaron Marcavitch, Hartford Courant, 8 June 2025
For decades, the lighthouse's keeper rang bells during foggy conditions but also maintained a log of the river's conditions — and, at times, rescued people in distress, according to the Journal News, part of the USA TODAY Network.
—Michael P. McKinney, USA Today, 7 June 2025
Continue reading … 'CONCERNING' – Former top Hochul aide's unearthed family connections to CCP raises alarm bells.
—FOXNews.com, 6 June 2025
While the household survey tends to have more volatility, May’s readings from that particular wing of the report rang more alarm bells than usual.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 6 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for bell
Cite this Entry
“Bell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bell. Accessed 11 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bell
1 of 2 noun1
: a hollow usually cup-shaped metallic device that makes a ringing sound when struck
2
: the stroke or sound of a bell that tells the hour
3
: a half hour period of a watch on shipboard indicated by the strokes of a bell
4
: something (as a flower or the mouth of a trumpet) shaped like a bell
bell
2 of 2 verb1
: to provide with a bell
bell a cat
2
: to take the form of a bell : flare
Geographical Definition
Bell
geographical name
city in southwestern California southeast of Los Angeles population 35,477
Biographical Definition
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