pinging
|ping-ing|
/ˈpɪŋɪŋ/
(ping)
sharp sound
Etymology
'ping' originates from English, specifically as an onomatopoeic word 'ping' that imitates a short, high-pitched sound.
'ping' was used as an onomatopoeic noun and verb to describe a short sharp sound (early 20th century); it was later applied in sonar/radar contexts to mean sending a brief pulse. In computing, the network utility 'ping' was named in 1983 by Mike Muuss after the sonar term, and the verb sense 'to ping' extended to sending network probes and short messages.
Initially it meant 'a short high-pitched sound'; over time it broadened to mean 'send a short signal or probe' (sonar/radar) and later 'send a network probe or brief electronic message.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or instance of sending pings; repeated short notifications or probes; sometimes used to refer to measured round-trip time (ping value) in informal contexts.
The constant pinging from the monitoring tool is distracting.
Synonyms
Verb 1
present participle of 'ping': sending an ICMP echo request or similar network probe to check whether a host is reachable and to measure latency.
I'm pinging the server to check if it's online.
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Antonyms
Verb 2
sending a short message or notification to a person (informal, often by chat, SMS, or quick email) — to contact someone briefly.
I'll be pinging you later with the details.
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Idioms
Last updated: 2025/11/01 21:25