tinkle

1 of 2

verb

tin·​kle ˈtiŋ-kəl How to pronounce tinkle (audio)
tinkled; tinkling ˈtiŋ-k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce tinkle (audio)
Synonyms of tinklenext

intransitive verb

1
: to make or emit a tinkle or a sound suggestive of a tinkle
2
: urinate

transitive verb

1
: to sound or make known (the time) by a tinkle
2
a
: to cause to make a tinkle
b
: to produce by tinkling
tinkle a tune

tinkle

2 of 2

noun

1
: a series of short high ringing or clinking sounds
2
: a jingling effect in verse or prose

Synonyms

Verb

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of tinkle in a Sentence

Verb The ice tinkled in the glass. A piano was tinkling in the background. He tinkled a small bell. Noun the soothing tinkle of the wind chime on the back porch
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.
Verb
Shaking the capsules produces audio signals that range from rattling stones, over tinkling coins to swooshing sand. — Erico Guizzo, IEEE Spectrum, 5 Oct. 2018 Jeff Goldblum tinkled the ivories during a moving In Memoriam section at the BAFTA Film Awards. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 16 Feb. 2025
Noun
Now, new research suggests urination may function in a similar way: Captive chimpanzees that saw their peers peeing were more likely to take a tinkle themselves. — Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Jan. 2025 The door chime at their floral and gift shop tinkles every few minutes as another customer and friend comes in to collect their $10 bows. — Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for tinkle

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, frequentative of tinken to tinkle, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1668, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tinkle was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing tinkle

Rhymes for tinkle

See All Rhymes for tinkle

Browse Nearby Words

tin-kettling
tinkle
tinkler
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tinkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tinkle. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

tinkle

verb
tin·​kle
ˈtiŋ-kəl
tinkled; tinkling
-k(ə-)liŋ
: to make or cause to make a series of short high ringing or clinking sounds
tinkle noun

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