peal

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: the loud ringing of bells
the peal of wedding bells
b
: a complete set of changes (see change entry 2 sense 6) on a given number of bells
c
: a set of bells tuned to the tones of the major (see major entry 1 sense 7a) scale for change ringing
2
: a loud sound or succession of sounds
peals of laughter
peals of thunder

peal

2 of 2

verb

pealed; pealing; peals

intransitive verb

: to give out peals

transitive verb

: to utter or give forth loudly

Examples of peal in a Sentence

Noun the peal of wedding bells Verb the village bells pealed every hour in commemoration
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Squeezing in the more than 100 additional components necessary to have a modern-style wristwatch strike with pinpoint accuracy and rich, clear peals — each watch sounds subtly different — is considered the height of horological craft, and most companies abandoned such complex models long ago. Nancy Hass, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2024 The sounds of worms and microorganisms at work emerged as the honking peals of a saxophone. Anna Wiener, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023 Each episode of Armchair Expert guarantees an hours-long, sprawling mix of conversation and interview that gracefully bobs between intense vulnerability and peals of laughter. Lucy Dolan-Zalaznick, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2023 After declaring a preferred kind of freedom, each visitor gets to listen to the peal of small bells play its tune, then to pull a lever that rings the missing note on the big bell. Blake Gopnik, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2023 The anecdote, with its heavy Freudian implications, provoked peals of laughter. Elizabeth Winkler, The New Yorker, 23 June 2023 This time, she was interrupted not by the peals of the alarm, but by the clapping of hands. Megan Molteni, STAT, 14 Mar. 2023 Šestan let out a peal of laughter. Tony Perrottet, Smithsonian Magazine, 26 Aug. 2022 Another peal of laughter. New York Times, 15 May 2021
Verb
Keep your hears open and your eyes pealed on Leap Day. Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 19 Feb. 2024 Minutes later, more explosions peal through the air, as the Israeli military responds to the source of the fire. Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2023 Damage to property: Gateway Drive Police were called on Sept. 8 after a Gateway Drive resident’s car was broken into, and the steering column was pealed. Robert Higgs, cleveland, 13 Sep. 2023 Early risers and those late to bed reaped rewards in Washington on Friday as the pre-dawn hours crackled with lightning and pealed with thunder, providing an atmospheric overture to one of the landmarks of our summer. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 22 July 2023 Their familysong, pealing like bells just beyond reach. Hilary Leichter, Harper's Magazine, 25 May 2020 The service was interrupted at least twice by emergency alerts pealing from cellphones scattered throughout the congregation. David Montgomery, New York Times, 14 July 2019 The bell now resides at the Presbyterian church, pealing electronically rather than through physical ringing. Laura Bednar, cleveland, 2 Dec. 2019 Winds rose, lightning flickered and thunder crashed and pealed as rain poured down. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 20 Aug. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'peal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, appeal, summons to church, short for appel appeal, from appelen to appeal

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

1593, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

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

Dictionary Entries Near peal

Cite this Entry

“Peal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peal. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

peal

noun
ˈpē(ə)l
1
: the loud ringing of bells
2
: a loud sound or series of sounds
a peal of laughter
a peal of thunder
peal verb

More from Merriam-Webster on peal

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