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
Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
The Stoxx Europe 600 Basic Resources made gains through the session but fell below the flatline by the closing bell.
—Hugh Leask, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
Yet, with the rest of the squad beginning their preparations for a midweek trip to Hartlepool United in the League Cup, his absence had alarm bells ringing.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Their first true punch landed Friday, in the latter stages of the first quarter, put Minnesota’s defense on its heels, and the Wolves spent the rest of the evening in the corner, anxiously awaiting the bell.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 25 Oct. 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
Video shows the trio standing ominously in the front yard before taking turns ringing the bell, knocking on the door and, at one point, jiggling its handle.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
The Stoxx Europe 600 Basic Resources made gains through the session but fell below the flatline by the closing bell.
—Hugh Leask, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
Yet, with the rest of the squad beginning their preparations for a midweek trip to Hartlepool United in the League Cup, his absence had alarm bells ringing.
—Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2025
Their first true punch landed Friday, in the latter stages of the first quarter, put Minnesota’s defense on its heels, and the Wolves spent the rest of the evening in the corner, anxiously awaiting the bell.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 25 Oct. 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 30 Oct. 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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