Bong Definition & Meaning

American

British

Etymology

Examples

Synonyms bong 1 American [bong, bawng] / bɒŋ, bɔŋ /

noun

1. a dull, resonant sound, as of a large bell.

verb (used without object)

1. to produce this sound.

   The church bell bonged promptly at noon.

bong 2 American [bong, bawng] / bɒŋ, bɔŋ /

noun

1. a water pipe for smoking marijuana or other drugs. Similar in function to a hookah, a bong has a heated bowl, water reservoir, and a tube with a mouthpiece.

bong 1 British / bɒŋ /

noun

1. a deep reverberating sound, as of a large bell

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

1. to make a deep reverberating sound

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 bong 2 British / bɒŋ /

noun

1. a type of water pipe for smoking marijuana, crack, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of bong1

First recorded in 1855–60; imitative

Origin of bong2

First recorded in 1970–75; from Thai bong, baung “bamboo tube”

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The Elizabeth Tower is one of London's best-known landmarks and is often known as Big Ben - although that's actually the name of the bell that produces the famous bongs.

From BBC

In fact, ping pong was done as Big Ben bonged 12 times, and the House of Lords had, collectively, decided it had made its point.

From BBC

The bongs are now an integral part of BBC Radio 4's daily news bulletins, with the sound heard twice a day, at the start of the 18:00 and midnight news bulletins.

From BBC

A dab of a side order of jaew bong, suggested by a server, ignited my very being.

From Seattle Times

So one elusive and cheeky resident has created a parody Twitter account for the Machynlleth town clock - which "bongs" every hour.

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.