1
: the face of a sundial
2
obsolete
: timepiece
3
: the graduated face of a timepiece
4
a
: a face upon which some measurement is registered usually by means of graduations and a pointer
the thermometer dial reads 70°F
b
: a device that may be operated to make electrical connections or to regulate the operation of a machine
a radio dial
a telephone dial
dialed or dialled; dialing or dialling
1
: to measure with a dial
2
a
: to manipulate a device (such as a dial) so as to operate, regulate, or select
dial your favorite program
dialed the wrong number
b
: call sense 1m(1)
dialed the office
1
Examples of dial in a Sentence
Noun
the dial of a pressure gauge
I had to keep adjusting the radio dial to make the station come in clearly.
Verb
I'm sorry. I must have dialed the wrong number.
dialed 911 and asked for the police
Recent Examples on the Web
Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 11 July 2025
No more messing around with dials or having to adjust sound levels, for example.
—Eric Hutto, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Angela Lei, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
In emergency situations, dial 911 for immediate assistance.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dial
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
The other wrist was adorned with an Audemars Piguet, its dial dotted with diamonds.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 11 July 2025
No more messing around with dials or having to adjust sound levels, for example.
—Eric Hutto, Forbes.com, 10 July 2025
Verb
To dial up the summer heat even more, Bordelle launched NARA last week, the second line in the brand’s AW26 collection that pays homage to London — the city where the brand was born.
—Angela Lei, Forbes.com, 13 July 2025
In emergency situations, dial 911 for immediate assistance.
—Bay Area Weather Report, Mercury News, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for dial
Cite this Entry
“Dial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dial. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
dial
1 of 2 noun
di·al
ˈdī(-ə)l 
1
a
: sundial
b
: the face of a watch or clock
2
a
: a face or scale on which some measurement is registered usually by means of numbers and a pointer
the thermometer dial reads 60°
b
: a disk usually with a knob or slots that may be turned to make electrical connections (as on a telephone) or to regulate the operation of a device (as a radio)
dial
2 of 2 verb
dialed or dialled; dialing or dialling
1
: to turn a dial so as to operate, regulate, or select
2
: to make a telephone call or connection
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