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
Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
It was offered in various metals—yellow gold, pink gold, and stainless steel—and with different dial types.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2025
Nicole Young, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Oct. 2025
While Guardiola might still refer to formations as phone numbers, the use of a 4-2-3-1 appears to be dialling back up.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dial
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Noun
But Perri likes to imagine the metaphor of a dial, where a patient is imagining the triggers and trying to turn down the fear.
—Rustin Dodd, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2025
It was offered in various metals—yellow gold, pink gold, and stainless steel—and with different dial types.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 22 Oct. 2025
Verb
Outside Tennessee, dial 615-254-4946.
—Nicole Young, Nashville Tennessean, 25 Oct. 2025
While Guardiola might still refer to formations as phone numbers, the use of a 4-2-3-1 appears to be dialling back up.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 23 Oct. 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 31 Oct. 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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