Ping

As a Noun

1. A short, sharp sound, like a small metallic tap or electronic beep.
2. A signal sent to check the status of a network connection.
3. A quick message or notification to get someone’s attention.

As a Verb

1. To send a brief electronic message or notification.
2. To make a sharp, high-pitched sound.
3. To test the response time of a computer or network.

As Other Form

• Pinging (Verb, Present Participle): The act of sending a signal or notification.

Word History

The word ping originated as an imitation of a high-pitched sound, first recorded in the early 20th century. In computing, it was adapted from sonar terminology to describe the process of sending a signal to test network connectivity.

Examples

1. I heard the ping of my phone’s notification. (Noun)
2. The server responded to the ping in milliseconds. (Noun)
3. Can you ping me when you arrive? (Verb)
4. He pinged his friend to check if they were online. (Verb)
5. The microwave pinged when the food was ready. (Verb)

Synonyms

Beep, signal, notification, alert, buzz

Related Words

Message, sound, check, network

Antonyms

(None, as “ping” describes a specific action or sound.)