Bingo Meaning
/ˈbɪŋ.ɡəʊ/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA game of chance for two or more players, who mark off numbers on a grid as they are announced by the caller; the game is won by the first person to call out "bingo!" or "house!" after crossing off all numbers on the grid or in one line of the grid.
nounA similar game or amusement in which participants tick off themed words, phrases or pictures as these are called out, or as they are mentioned, for example during a speech or performance
Sentence Examples
Monkey Bingo is the exciting new way to play bingo.
Bingo is something that grandmothers play.
CEFR Practice Quiz
At the community hall, players shouted "____" when they filled their cards with numbers.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The elderly people enjoy playing ____ at the community center today.
Word Origin & History
Alternative form of bing, suggesting a ringing sound. Attested since 1925.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"An explosion of gay male movies has hit the U.S. in the past few months. Kiss of the Spiderwoman, Parting Glances and My Beautiful Laundrette, among others, have not only demonstrateed that the coming out story can be surpassed, they've also shown the movie industry that substantive gay portrayals can mean box office bingo."
— 1986 April 19, Loie Hayes, Donna Deitch, “Leapin' Lesbians!”, in Gay Community News, page 8:
"‘Some big, hard-boiled egg meets up with a pretty face, and bingo! He cracks up and melts.’"
— 1932, Delos W. Lovelace, King Kong, published 1965, page 31:
"Just have to pick the bfast, lunch and dinner I feel most like eating today and – bingo!"
— 2009 February 28, Megan Ogilvie, “Flex your plan for healthier eating”, in Toronto Star:
"Megamind: Boingo!
Minion: I think you mean "bingo", sir.
Megamind: That's what I said. Boingo!"
— 2011 February 25, Alan Schoolcraft, Brent Simons, 7:35 from the start, in Simon J. Smith, director, Megamind: The Button of Doom (DVD/Blu-ray), Paramount Pictures:
"Well, the old pucker factor went up about 75 notches at that point cause that length of time would put my wingman below Bingo fuel, plus the thought of sitting in an orbit several miles West of the Yen Bai […]"
— 1993, Red River Valley Fighter Pilots, page 40:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
At the community hall, players shouted "____" when they filled their cards with numbers.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The elderly people enjoy playing ____ at the community center today.