Definition, synonyms and related words
The sound made by a telephone when ringing.
"The cheerful melody of my ringtone echoed through the kitchen as soon as my phone started buzzing on the counter."
In plain English: A ringtone is the short sound that plays on your phone to let you know someone is calling.
"I changed my phone's ringtone to a catchy pop song so I wouldn't miss any calls."
Of a telephone: to play a ringtone.
"The loud pop song playing through my phone when it rang was such an annoying ringtone."
In plain English: To ringtone means to change your phone's sound so it makes a specific noise when someone calls you.
"The phone's ringtone is annoying because it keeps echoing in my small office."
Usage: Use this verb form only when describing a phone that plays its specific sound sequence; do not use it as a synonym for the noun meaning the file itself or other types of alarms. It is strictly limited to telephones and their designated notification sounds.
The word ringtone is a straightforward combination of the words ring and tone that emerged to describe a sound used to signal an incoming call on mobile devices. It entered English as a modern compound term reflecting the specific function of vibrating or ringing sounds in telecommunications.