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Definitions

dial

[dahy-uhl, dahyl] / ˈdaɪ əl, daɪl /
VERB
tune to desired position
Synonyms


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Cardoso said he is in regular contact with the farm to dial in the restaurant’s needs.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 17, 2026

“It may be smart to dial back expectations,” said Matt Schulz, LendingTree’s chief consumer-finance analyst.

From MarketWatch Sep. 8, 2026

Instead, they could impose tariffs, with a promise to dial them back if China revalues.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 28, 2026

These engines are highly complex and it takes time for teams to dial into them so they are working at their optimum.

From BBC Aug. 25, 2026

It had some kind of a dial or gauge on it to read—I couldn’t see from where I was, but he held it in front of his mask and turned it slowly, studying it.

From "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O’Brien

When Lane Kiffin dials a number, the person on the other end usually answers and takes the call.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 24, 2026

Subscriptions could drive another $7 billion in revenue, Nowak said, and $2 of earnings growth, as the group begins “turning emerging monetization dials and creating new costs to compete for audiences and wallet share.”

From Barron's Jun. 3, 2026

There are lots of visual displays, but they’re primarily operated by dials, levers and other physical controls.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 30, 2026

Customers outside Iran call his Turkish phone on WhatsApp and he then dials their loved ones on his Iranian mobile.

From BBC Mar. 15, 2026

He looked at the dashboard of the plane, studied the dials and hoped to get some help, hoped to find a compass, but it was all so confusing, a jumble of numbers and lights.

From "Hatchet" by Gary Paulsen

She dialed the Comanche Police Department, and within minutes, a sheriff’s deputy arrived, followed by emergency responders.

From Slate Sep. 17, 2026

But by 2025, citing weakening discretionary spending, it dialed back the plan and closed 45 locations.

From The Wall Street Journal Sep. 14, 2026

Recent numbers from Goldman Sachs’s prime brokerage unit showed equity-focused hedge funds have dialed back their net exposure to stocks to some of the lowest levels of the past year.

From MarketWatch Sep. 10, 2026

He was a senior in high school at the time and remembered how much attention was dialed into the game.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 23, 2026

I dialed it quickly so I wouldn’t forget, so quickly that I got it wrong and lost my quarter.

From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt

Stewart Irwin, from Carlisle, finally dialled 999 in the early afternoon of 28 July 2023, and told the call handler his mother's skin had "started to turn blue".

From BBC Sep. 11, 2026

The last time he visited the One Stop store on Fusehill Street was mid-afternoon on 27 July, the day before he dialled 999.

From BBC Jul. 15, 2026

The economy had been set for a rebound this year on the back of hefty government spending, but forecasts have been dialled back due to the conflict.

From Barron's Jun. 16, 2026

"I am very focused, very dialled in," added Dubois as the attention soon turned to the Londoner walking out of two interviews earlier this week after feeling he was being mocked.

From BBC May 7, 2026

He then picked up the phone without any perceptible hesitation and dialled a local number.

From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger

But rather than dialing anything back, the big players are just revving their engines more and more.

From Slate Sep. 1, 2026

Wall Street has been busy dialing up expectations for U.S. refiners’ second-quarter profits and sales.

From MarketWatch Jul. 15, 2026

It seems daunting dialing in that depth and breadth within “The Pitt’s” hour-by-hour format.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 8, 2026

Microsoft has since softened its approach, dialing back the branding of some AI tools and even discontinuing free, built-in Copilot access in certain Office applications.

From Barron's Jun. 25, 2026

Charlie screams loud enough to have the whole building dialing 911, but today, nobody’s telling her to shut up.

From "Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero" by Kelly J. Baptist

Anyone becoming unwell with symptoms of meningitis or sepsis should seek medical help urgently at the closest Accident and Emergency Department or by dialling 999.

From BBC May 15, 2026

This gives the heart a bigger job of pumping it around the body and it copes by dialling up the blood pressure - a bit like cranking the tap on a garden hose pipe.

From BBC May 15, 2026

Anyone becoming unwell with symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia should seek medical help urgently at the closest Accident and Emergency Department or by dialling 999.

From BBC Mar. 16, 2026

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Saturday she believed US President Donald Trump still desires to own Greenland despite dialling back his recent threats to seize it by force.

From Barron's Feb. 14, 2026

When he had finished dialling, he picked up his handkerchief from the desk and put it over the mouthpiece, quite loosely and mounted rather high.

From "Franny and Zooey" by J. D. Salinger




Vocabulary lists containing dial


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