wring

[ring]

verb (used with object)

wrung, wringing 

1. to twist forcibly.

   He wrung the chicken's neck.

2. to twist and compress, or compress without twisting, in order to force out water or other liquid (often followed byout ).

   to wring clothes.

3. to extract or expel by twisting or compression (usually followed by out orfrom ).

4. to affect painfully by or as if by some contorting or compressing action.

5. to clasp tightly with or without twisting.

   to wring one's hands in pain.

6. to force (usually followed byoff ) by twisting.

7. to extract or get by forceful effort or means (often followed byout ).

verb (used without object)

wrung, wringing 

1. to perform the action of wringing something.

2. to writhe, as in anguish.

noun

1. a wringing; forcible twist or squeeze.

wring

/ rɪŋ /

verb

1. (often foll by out) to twist and compress to squeeze (a liquid) from (cloth, etc)

2. (tr) to twist forcibly

   wring its neck

3. (tr) to clasp and twist (one's hands), esp in anguish

4. (tr) to distress

   wring one's heart

5. (tr) to grip (someone's hand) vigorously in greeting

6. (tr) to obtain by or as if by forceful means

   wring information out of

7. (intr) to writhe with or as if with pain

8. soaking; drenched

noun

1. an act or the process of wringing

Other Word Forms

• outwring verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of wring¹

before 900; Middle English wringen, Old English wringan; cognate with German ringen to wrestle

Word History and Origins

Origin of wring¹

Old English wringan; related to Old High German ringan (German wringen ), Gothic wrungō snare. See _wrangle , _wrong

Example Sentences

While he might not wring the same satisfaction from it as some, he could be three-quarters of a way to a career Grand Slam by the end of Sunday.

From BBC

And one that they didn’t have to wring their hands over.

From Los Angeles Times

As she wrings a wet cloth from a bucket of water in the living room and starts by wiping down the tables and chairs, she considers her latest ploy to save money.

From BBC

There’s no proverbial wringing of hands around the character’s decision.

From Los Angeles Times

Last year, theater owners and industry professionals wrung their hands as Memorial Day box office performance tanked.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• draw out 
• extort 
• extract 
• squeeze 
• wrench 
• wrest