ping

ping — verb

1. if a small hard object pings, it makes a brief, high ringing noise, usually when

1.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

if a small hard object pings, it makes a brief, high ringing noise, usually when it strikes metal, glass, or another firm surface.

Example

A small stone pinged off the side of Marcus's car as he drove past.

ping off + [surface]: stray object hitting metal

The microwave pinged loudly to tell Sarah that her soup was ready.

machine signal: device + ping

Common collocations
  • ping off something
  • ping against something
  • the microwave pinged
  • a stone pinged
Synonyms
  • ding

    very similar; often used for a single bell-like signal from a machine or counter

  • chime

    softer and more musical, often from a clock, doorbell, or set of bells

  • ring

    broader; can describe longer sounds and is the standard verb for phones and bells

Antonyms
  • thud

    a low, dull sound made by something soft or heavy hitting a surface

Grammar Patterns

[hard object] + ping

ping against / on / off + [surface]

Usage Note

Subject is typically a small hard object (stone, bullet, coin) hitting a firm surface, or a machine that signals with a brief tone (microwave, oven, lift). Distinguish from sense 4, which is reserved for the unwanted knocking noise of a faulty engine.

Common Mistakes

The drum pinged when he hit it.
The drum thudded when he hit it.
'ping' needs a high, ringing tone, not a low or dull one.
A pillow pinged off the wall.
A pillow thumped against the wall.
soft objects do not make a pinging sound.

2. to send someone a short text, chat, or email, often to remind them about somethi

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to send someone a short text, chat, or email, often to remind them about something or to get a quick reply.

Example

Ping me on Slack when the meeting room is free.

ping + [person] + when-clause: workplace request

Yuki pinged her boss to ask if she could leave early on Friday.

ping + [person] + to-infinitive: brief check-in

Common collocations
  • ping someone on Slack
  • ping someone a message
  • ping the team
  • just ping me
Synonyms
  • message

    neutral; works in any register and across all platforms

  • text

    specifically a phone SMS or chat-app message

  • shoot

    also informal: 'shoot me an email' suggests something quick and small

Grammar Patterns

ping + [person]

ping + [person] + [message]

ping + [person] + when/if-clause

Usage Note

Informal and most common in workplace chat tools (Slack, Teams), texting, and email. Object is normally a person or small group rather than a company or system. Often paired with a follow-up clue like 'when…', 'if…', or a specific platform such as 'on WhatsApp'.

Common Mistakes

I pinged a message to him.
I pinged him a message.' or 'I pinged him about the report.
the person is the direct object, not the message.
Please ping the client a formal contract by post.
Please send the client a formal contract by post.
'ping' is too casual for paper documents or formal writing.

3. to send a tiny test signal from your computer to another device or server on a n

3.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to send a tiny test signal from your computer to another device or server on a network in order to check that it is online and replying.

Example

The engineer pinged the office router to find out why the WiFi kept dropping.

ping + [device]: network troubleshooting

Try pinging the server before you reboot the whole machine.

ping + [server]: standard diagnostic step

Common collocations
  • ping the server
  • ping an IP address
  • ping a router
  • ping a website
Synonyms
  • probe

    broader technical term for sending any test signal; not limited to ICMP

  • poll

    to check a device repeatedly at fixed times rather than once

Grammar Patterns

ping + [server / IP address / device]

Usage Note

Used by network engineers, system administrators, and gamers to confirm whether a remote machine is reachable. Object is usually a server, IP address, router, website, or other device, not a person. Distinguish from sense 2, where the object is a person and the goal is to communicate, not to test a network.

Common Mistakes

I pinged my friend's computer to chat.
I pinged my friend's computer to see if it was online.
sense 3 only checks reachability; you do not exchange messages this way.
The website was pinging slowly.
The ping to the website was slow.' or 'The website was responding slowly to pings.
the verb describes sending the test, not the speed of the response.

4. (of a car engine) to make small, repeated knocking sounds because it is not runn

4.verbintransitiveC1
Definition

(of a car engine) to make small, repeated knocking sounds because it is not running smoothly, often due to a fuel problem.

Example

The old Toyota's engine started pinging as Daniel drove uphill in fourth gear.

[engine] + ping: typical fault scenario

If your engine pings, switch to a higher-grade fuel and see if the noise stops.

if-clause: troubleshooting advice

Common collocations
  • the engine pings
  • a pinging engine
  • ping under load
  • ping on cheap petrol
Synonyms
  • knock

    the standard mechanical term, often used in 'engine knock' or 'knocking sound'

  • pink

    British informal verb for the same fault, mainly heard from older drivers and mechanics

Grammar Patterns

[engine] + ping

Usage Note

Subject is normally an engine, motor, or car itself, not a person. Used in mechanical contexts to describe a fault, not a normal sound. Distinguish from sense 1: a coin or microwave pings briefly and harmlessly, whereas an engine that pings is misfiring and may need repair.

Common Mistakes

The driver pinged the engine.
The engine pinged as the driver accelerated.
this sense is intransitive; the engine itself is the subject.
My car is pinging because of cold weather.
My car is pinging because of low-grade fuel or wrong ignition timing.
pinging refers to combustion problems, not weather noise.

ping — noun

Word family

  • pinging
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

All five verbs describe sending a quick written contact, but they differ in tone and channel. 'Ping' is informal and most at home in workplace chat tools like Slack or Teams; it suggests something tiny that may even nudge or remind. 'Message' is the safe, neutral choice and works in any register or platform. 'Text' is narrower and points specifically to a phone SMS or chat-app message. 'Shoot' is breezy American English, as in 'shoot me an email', and stresses speed and lightness. 'Drop', as in 'drop me a line', sounds friendly and unhurried, often used between people who already know each other. Compare: 'Ping me when the file is ready' fits a coworker on Slack, while 'Drop me a line when you get home' fits a relaxed text to a friend.

ping ↗message ↗text ↗shoot ↗drop ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • ping of a microwave
  • ping of a bell
  • ping value
  • ping test

Adverbs

Phrases

  • with a ping
  • high / low ping
  • ping me on Slack
  • ping the server

Prepositions

  • ping off
  • ping against
  • ping on (a platform)
  • ping from

Etymology

English (imitative)

'Ping' first appeared in English in the 1830s as a word that imitates the brief, ringing sound of a bullet or small metal object hitting a hard surface. The noun and verb developed together, both based on the sound itself. In the late 20th century, computer scientists borrowed the word for a small network test packet, named after the noise of a sonar pulse bouncing back. From the chat era of the 1990s onward, the verb spread again into casual English to mean sending someone a quick electronic message.