bang
bang Lexical Profile
bang Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A sudden, loud, sharp noise, such as that produced by an explosion, a gunshot, or a door slamming shut.
"The heavy wooden door slammed shut with a loud bang when the wind caught it."
North American A fringe of hair cut straight across the forehead (usually used in the plural form 'bangs').
"She decided to get her bangs trimmed before starting her new job."
A sharp, forceful blow or impact against a surface or part of the body.
"He suffered a nasty bang on the knee when he tripped over the low garden wall."
A sudden feeling of intense excitement, pleasure, or thrill (informal).
"The retired engineer gets a real bang out of teaching local kids how to build model rockets."
• verb
To strike, hit, or put down something forcefully and noisily.
"The judge banged his gavel on the desk to restore order in the courtroom."
To make a sudden, loud, sharp sound, or to move with such a sound.
"The loose window shutter banged against the side of the house all through the stormy night."
To accidentally hit or bump a part of one's body against a hard object, causing pain or injury.
"Be careful not to bang your head on the low wooden beam when you enter the attic."
• interjection
Used to imitate the sound of a sudden, loud impact, explosion, or gunshot, or to express suddenness.
"Bang! The starting pistol echoed across the stadium, and the runners sprinted forward."
• adverb
Directly, squarely, or with a sudden forceful impact.
"The cyclist rode bang into the back of the parked delivery van."
British Exactly, completely, or precisely as specified.
"The commuter train arrived at the platform bang on time."
Word Nuance & Usage
When referring to a hairstyle cut straight across the forehead, the word is almost always used in the plural form 'bangs' in North American English, whereas British English speakers typically use the singular term 'fringe'.
• Rhymes for bang
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Introduced into English in the mid-16th century, likely borrowed from a Scandinavian source akin to Old Norse 'banga' ('to hammer or pound'), which is ultimately of imitative origin.