English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

doorbell

DAW-behl
noun
1
A button or device by an entrance that rings or chimes to alert people inside that someone is at the door.
"The doorbell rang just as she sat down to eat."
verb
1
(US politics) To go door to door canvassing, ringing bells to talk to residents.
"Volunteers doorbelled the whole neighborhood before the election."

How to Use Doorbell

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe button you press at someone's front door, or (in campaigning) to canvass house by house.

Common pairings
ring the doorbell doorbell camera

Word Forms

doorbelled past tense, doorbells plural, doorbells singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “doorbell” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ rang just as she sat down to eat.

Etymology

A straightforward compound of "door" and "bell."

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial