Irregular verb
The verb to wring
wring → wrung → wrung
B2Meaning: to twist something hard; to twist out water · Type: irregular
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I/you/we/they wring - Past Simple:
wrung(silent w) - Past participle:
wrung - -ing form:
wringing
Conjugation of the verb to wring
Present Simple
| I | wring |
| You | wring |
| He / She / It | wrings |
| We | wring |
| You (pl.) | wring |
| They | wring |
Past Simple
| I | wrung |
| You | wrung |
| He / She / It | wrung |
| We | wrung |
| You (pl.) | wrung |
| They | wrung |
All the forms of the verb to wring
Present Simple
Full pagewring / wrings
“I wring out my swimsuit.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are wringing
“I am wringing out the towel right now.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagewrung
“She wrung out the towel.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were wringing
“I was wringing out the towel when the phone rang.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has wrung
“I have already wrung out the towel.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad wrung
“She had already wrung out the towel when I arrived.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill wring
“I will wring out the towel tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to wring
“I'm going to wring out the towel this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould wring
“I would wring out the towel if I had time.”
See the pageHow to use to wring
1. Wringing out wet clothes
Wring out means to twist something wet to get the water out.
- Wring out the towel.
2. Twisting hard
Here, wring means to twist something hard with your hands.
- Wring its neck.
3. Wring your hands
Wring your hands means to twist your hands together because you are worried.
- She wrung her hands.
A common mistake
1. Wringed ❌
Wring is irregular: wrung in the Past Simple and the past participle, like swing → swung. She wrung out the towel. The w is silent: /rɪŋ/, /rʌŋ/.
What's next?
You can conjugate to wring. Now say it out loud.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the past simple of wring?+
Wrung. It follows the i → u pattern: sting/stung, swing/swung, wring/wrung. Not wringed.
Why is the w in wring silent?+
Wring is said /rɪŋ/: the first w is silent. Many words that start with wr- work like this: write /raɪt/, wrap /ræp/, wrist /rɪst/, wrong /rɒŋ/. The w comes from Old English, when people still said it.
What is the difference between wring and ring?+
They sound the same (/rɪŋ/), but their meanings are different. Wring means to twist. Ring means to make a bell sound, and a ring is jewellery for your finger. Wring → wrung. Ring (a bell) → rang → rung. The context tells you which one it is.
What does wring your hands mean?+
Wring your hands means to twist your hands together because you are worried or very upset. She wrung her hands while she waited for news. It is a strong picture of worry.
What does wring out mean?+
Wring out means to twist something wet to get the water out. Wring out the towel. Wring out a sponge. It is a verb + a small word (out).
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/wring
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.