chime

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈchīm How to pronounce chime (audio)
Synonyms of chimenext
: the edge or rim of a cask or drum

chime

2 of 3

verb

chimed; chiming

intransitive verb

1
a
: to make a musical and especially a harmonious sound
b
: to make the sounds of a chime
2
: to be or act in accord

transitive verb

1
: to cause to sound musically by striking
2
: to produce by chiming
3
: to call or indicate by chiming
the clock chimed midnight
4
: to utter repetitively : din sense 2
chimer noun

chime

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
: an apparatus for chiming a bell or set of bells
2
a
: a musically tuned set of bells
b
: one of a set of objects giving a bell-like sound when struck
3
a
: the sound of a set of bells
—usually used in plural
b
: a musical sound suggesting that of bells
4
: accord, harmony
such happy chime of fact and theory— Henry Maudsley

Synonyms

Verb

Noun (2)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of chime in a Sentence

Verb The music and the mood chimed well together. the restaurant's manor-house decor chimes perfectly with the chef's traditionalist take on haute cuisine Noun (2) the welcoming chimes on our doorbell firmly believes that science and religion can keep chime with one another
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The signature chime that viewers hear during the Temptation Island title card even signifies that this is part of the NRTVU (Netflix Reality Television Universe). — Charlotte Walsh, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2025 During a sound bath (according to Gary’s website), various chimes and bowls are played in an intentional therapeutic sequence; the treatment may uplift the spirit, release stuck energies and rouse engagement with the surrounding environment. — Julia Whelan Emma Kehlbeck Joel Thibodeau, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2025
Verb
Broadcasters are changing their tune while tennis authorities will continue to pursue the next generation of viewers with a product that chimes with their audience’s time. — Tim Ellis, Forbes, 16 Mar. 2025 Its protagonist, who aspires to sleep through a whole year with the help of psychiatric drugs, is patently not a stand-in for the United States, and yet her inner darkness, a source of both animation and rot, chimes with the violence of our national response to 9/11. — Lily Meyer, The Atlantic, 11 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chime

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English chimbe, from Old English cimb-; akin to Middle Dutch kimme edge of a cask

Noun (2)

Middle English, cymbal, probably from Anglo-French *chimbe, cime, from Latin cymbalum cymbal

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of chime was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing chime

Rhymes for chime

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Browse Nearby Words

chime
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Cite this Entry

“Chime.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chime. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

chime

1 of 2 noun
ˈchīm How to pronounce chime (audio)
1
: a set of bells tuned to play music
2
: the sound of a set of bells
—usually used in plural

chime

2 of 2 verb
chimed; chiming
1
: to make the sounds of a chime
2
: to call or indicate by chiming

More from Merriam-Webster on chime

Nglish: Translation of chime for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chime

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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