zing

[ zing ]

noun

1. vitality, animation, or zest.
2. a quality or characteristic that excites the interest, enthusiasm, etc.:

   a tourist town with lots of zing.

3. a sharp singing or whining noise, as of a bullet passing through the air.

verb (used without object)

1. to move or proceed with a sharp singing or whining noise:

   The cars zinged down the highway.

2. to move or proceed with speed or vitality; zip.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to move with or as with a sharp, singing or whining noise:

   The pitcher zinged a slider right over the plate.

2. Slang. to blame or criticize severely:

   City Hall always gets zinged when crime increases.

zing

/ zɪŋ /

noun

1. a short high-pitched buzzing sound, as of a bullet or vibrating string
2. vitality; zest

verb

1. intr to make or move with or as if with a high-pitched buzzing sound

Word History and Origins

Origin of zing¹

First recorded in 1910–15; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of zing¹

C20: of imitative origin

Example Sentences

It’s all about the patty’s neutral texture and saltiness, as complimented by the comforting blandness of half-melted American cheese, the sharp zing of pickles and mustard, and a swirl of ketchup.

From Eater

Ginger’s enlivening zing counterbalances the watermelon’s sweetness and bridges it to the more savory cucumber, while torn mint leaves, tossed in at the end, add a fourth layer of cool freshness.

From Washington Post

The cartoons zing, whirr, and reverberate harmonically, making each entry a sort of duet.

From The Daily Beast

So if you are tempted to see the Salinger documentary or read the Salinger book—if you feel that zing—by all means, go ahead.

From The Daily Beast

Coffee is a great pick-me-up on to put some zing in those long Monday mornings, can be served with or without milk and/or sugar.

From The Daily Beast

Or maybe, just maybe, he will zing the president on a white-hot issue dominating every waking moment for, um, some voters.

From The Daily Beast

The newly fired host took advantage of a Letterman appearance to zing Current TV while admitting he had used poor judgment.

From The Daily Beast

This startling announcement was immediately followed by a chorus of male voices singing with hearty gusto, Zing-a-Zing!

From Project Gutenberg

Quiz′ziness, oddness; Quiz′zing, raillery; Quiz′zing-glass, a single eye-glass.

From Project Gutenberg

One minute she was jumpin' along amongst them gravestones like a hoptoad with wings, and then—Zing!

From Project Gutenberg

She thought of how, at eleven o'clock the night before, her telephone had rung with the sharp zing!

From Project Gutenberg

The Scaritt's window-shades always rolled; their doorbell always rang with a satisfactory zing; their suction-pump never stuck.

From Project Gutenberg