dials 1 of 2

Definition of dialsnext
present tense third-person singular of dial
as in calls
to make a telephone call to dialed 911 and asked for the police

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

dials

2 of 2

noun

plural of dial

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dials
Verb
Should both signal paths somehow fail the system is packaged with Mercedes rear-wheel steer option, which dials in up to 10 degrees of rear wheel steering input, and a third input will kick in to control the rear-wheel steering to enable the driver to pull over slowly. Joel Feder, The Drive, 2 Apr. 2026 From there, the series dials back to 1988 to the tiny seaport town of Grimsby, several hours north of London. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 18 Mar. 2026 The Trojans are using the roughly two weeks in between the conference tournament loss and the beginning of the NCAA Tournament to rebuild their competitive drive before shifting into a mindset that dials in on the Tigers. Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 16 Mar. 2026 Chef Alejandro Crespo has created a menu that dials up traditional tapas. Liz Provencher, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026 Trump administration dials back vaccine recommendations Public health experts recommend that everyone 6 months and older get an annual influenza vaccine. Mike Stobbe, Los Angeles Times, 6 Jan. 2026 This new installment in the film franchise based on the bestselling YA book series by Suzanne Collins again dials things back, this time looking at Haymitch Abernathy’s origins. Dan Heching, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026 When House frantically dials up the device, the man’s head explodes in a mess of gooey, gory innards. Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Dec. 2025 Skip forward to the 1960s, when an upstanding Canadian gentleman by the name of Gerald Bull dials it up to 11 with Project HARP (High Altitude Research Project). New Atlas, 22 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dials
Verb
  • There’s a great exchange between Bishop and Kidd in the first episode, in which Bishop calls Kidd out on counting cards and says something about luck.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Tucked away in the more than 500 pages of city budget expenditures, the mayor calls for creating a new revenue stream by allowing people who own a second home to rent it out on a short-term basis, something that is currently prohibited.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Or the way the setting sun hit the lacquer furniture and the shiny brass knobs.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026
  • The speaker is meant to convey a luxurious feel, as it's made of real wood veneer and features tactile buttons and knobs.
    George Yang, PC Magazine, 24 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Holding a clutch with one or both hands also provides a polite, socially acceptable reason not to shake every hand within reach.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
  • After their Champions League quarter-final exit at the hands of Atletico Madrid — a title which had been the squad’s main objective — all that is left for Flick’s side now is to seemingly wait to be crowned champions of Spain for a second year in a row.
    Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • These buttons require the press of a button to start cooking or heating something quickly.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
  • Long-pressing these buttons will keep the tonearm moving beyond the presets – stopping a little after button release to lower the stylus.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Our one peek into it comes when Darren phones Evy to pressure her to ditch her mom and come to a party.
    Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
  • The driver then phones the police, while arguing with officers at the scene.
    Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Runser referenced indicators in manufacturing showing the sector is expanding, which is supportive of future freight demand.
    Dylan Sherman, Arkansas Online, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Still, your age can offer a few indicators about what your skin needs, which, for many people in their late 30s and beyond, is moisture and a light touch.
    Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In stock markets abroad, indexes rose in Europe following a weaker finish in Asia.
    Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
  • From the in-flight data, the team computed apparent ice emission indices (ice crystals/kg) and nvPM EI for both fuels.
    Srishti Gupta, Interesting Engineering, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • All that tinkering did not yield clean sheets; nor did the occasional switches to a back five, against Arsenal in the League Cup, Wrexham in the FA Cup and at Brighton in the league.
    Cerys Jones, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026
  • But those moments that flirt with horror are less exciting than the constant switches in who has the upper hand.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Dials.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dials. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on dials

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster