bang
bang
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "bang" is /bæŋ/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds:
b: /b/ (a voiced bilabial stop)
æ: /æ/ (a near-open front unrounded vowel)
ŋ: /ŋ/ (a velar nasal)
Word Form Variations
bang (noun - singular): A sudden loud noise. Also used as a verb.
bangs (noun - plural): Multiple sudden loud noises. Also used as the 3rd person singular present tense of the verb.
banging (verb - present participle/gerund): The act of making a sudden loud noise.
banged (verb - past tense/past participle): Made a sudden loud noise.
banger (noun): Something that makes a bang (e.g., a firecracker).
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun:
Definition: A sudden, loud, sharp noise.
Synonyms: boom, crash, report, clap, explosion, thud, slam
Antonyms: silence, whisper, murmur, hush
Definition: (Informal) A vigorous blow or impact.
Synonyms: hit, strike, thump, wallop, whack
Antonyms: caress, tap, gentle touch
Definition: (Informal, often plural) Hair that is cut straight across the forehead.
Synonyms: fringe
Antonyms: (Often described by length or style, rather than a direct antonym. For example, long hair, side-swept bangs, etc.)
Verb:
Definition: To make or cause to make a sudden, loud, sharp noise.
Synonyms: boom, crash, clang, slam, thump, pound
Antonyms: be quiet, whisper, hush, silence
Definition: To strike or hit forcefully.
Synonyms: hit, strike, thump, pound, batter, whack, slam
Antonyms: caress, tap, stroke, gently touch
Adjective:
(Informal) Bang-on: Exactly right; perfectly accurate.
Synonyms: perfect, accurate, correct, spot-on, precise
Antonyms: wrong, inaccurate, incorrect, off
(Informal) Bang up: Excellent; first-rate.
Synonyms: great, fantastic, superb, wonderful
Antonyms: terrible, awful, poor, dreadful
Adverb:
(Informal) Bang: Directly; exactly.
Synonyms: precisely, exactly, right, squarely
Antonyms: approximately, roughly, inexactly
Examples of Use
Noun (Sudden noise):
"The door slammed with a loud bang, making me jump." (General public discourse)
"A sonic bang echoed across the testing range as the experimental aircraft broke the sound barrier." (News report - hypothetical example)
"The fireworks finale ended with a series of spectacular bangs." (General public discourse)
Noun (Blow/Impact):
"He received a nasty bang on the head when he fell off his bike." (General public discourse)
"The boxer delivered a powerful bang to his opponent's jaw." (Sports commentary - hypothetical example)
Noun (Hair):
"She decided to get bangs to frame her face." (General public discourse)
"The magazine featured a tutorial on styling different types of bangs." (Online fashion publication - hypothetical example)
Verb (Make a noise):
"The thunder banged overhead, shaking the windows." (General public discourse)
"He banged his fist on the table in anger." (General public discourse)
Verb (Strike):
"She banged the drum with enthusiasm." (General public discourse)
"He accidentally banged his knee on the coffee table." (General public discourse)
Adjective (Bang-on):
"Your assessment of the situation is bang-on." (General public discourse)
"The comedian's jokes were bang-on; the audience loved them." (Entertainment review - hypothetical example)
Adjective (Bang up):
"They did a bang-up job on the renovations." (General public discourse)
"The restaurant received a bang-up review from the food critic." (Restaurant review - hypothetical example)
Adverb:
"The arrow landed bang in the center of the target." (General public discourse)
"He arrived bang on time for the meeting." (General public discourse)
10 Famous Quotes Using Bang
"The universe began not with a whisper but with a bang." – Stephen Hawking
"Some endings come with a bang, others with a silence that screams." – Unknown
"We are all stardust, born of a bang and scattered to the wind." – Carl Sagan
"I want to go out with a bang, not a whimper." – Frank Sinatra
"The big bang was the ultimate reset button." – Neil deGrasse Tyson
"Every revolution starts with a bang of ideas." – Che Guevara
"You don’t need fireworks to make an impact; sometimes a whisper hits harder than a bang." – Unknown
"Life rarely knocks—it comes in with a bang." – Chuck Palahniuk
"Art should hit you like a bang—not with noise, but with meaning." – Banksy
"Start with a bang, and the world will have no choice but to listen." – Unknown
Etymology
The word "bang" has a pretty straightforward and onomatopoeic origin, meaning it imitates the sound it describes. It's likely that people started using some form of "bang" very early on, as soon as they needed a word for a sudden, loud noise.
While pinpointing the very first use is impossible, its origins are probably rooted in the natural human tendency to mimic sounds. Think about how we use words like "boom," "crash," or "clatter"—they all sound like the noises they represent. "Bang" fits right into this category.
It's believed "bang" probably emerged sometime in the late Middle Ages or early modern period (roughly the 14th to 16th centuries), though precise dates are hard to come by. Initially, it was almost certainly used simply to describe a loud, sharp sound, like the bang of a gun or a door slamming. This core meaning has remained consistent throughout the word's history.
Over time, "bang" broadened its meaning a little. It started being used for a forceful hit or impact (like "He gave the table a bang") and even, quite differently, for a specific style of haircut (like "She got bangs"). But these are later developments. The fundamental idea of a sudden, sharp noise is at the heart of the word's etymology.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Bang
Directly using "bang":
Bang for your buck: Meaning good value for money. This is probably the most common idiom using "bang." It plays on the idea of a loud "bang" being impressive or impactful, just as getting good value is.
Big bang: Referring to the prevailing cosmological theory of the universe's origin. While technically a scientific term, it's become a widely recognized phrase.
Go out with a bang: Meaning to end something in a dramatic or spectacular way. This uses the "bang" to represent a powerful, attention-grabbing conclusion.
Bang on: (British English) Meaning exactly right or correct. This is more colloquial, particularly in the UK, and has a similar meaning to "spot on."
Bang up: (British English) Meaning excellent or first-rate. Similar to "bang on," this is more common in British English.
Bang to rights: (British English) Meaning to catch someone in the act of doing something wrong. This is a more specific and less common idiom.
Phrases related to the sound of a "bang":
With a crash: Similar to "with a bang," this emphasizes a sudden, loud impact. "The market crashed" is a common example.
In a flash: While not about sound, this idiom captures the suddenness associated with a "bang." "It happened in a flash" means it happened very quickly.
Like a shot: Again, emphasizing speed and suddenness. "He took off like a shot" means he ran very quickly.
Phrases related to the impact of a "bang":
Hit hard: This can refer to both physical and emotional impact. "The news hit him hard" means it had a strong negative effect on him.
Strike a blow: Similar to "hit hard," but often used in a more metaphorical sense, like "The new law struck a blow to corruption."
Make a splash: This idiom means to make a noticeable impact or create a stir. It's related to the idea of a "bang" in that it implies a significant and attention-grabbing event.
Original/lesser-known examples:
A bang of inspiration: A sudden burst of creativity or insight.
The bang of reality: The sudden and sometimes unpleasant realization of the truth.
To bang heads: (figuratively) To argue or disagree strongly.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of bang from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
