What does pealed mean?
Pealed is the past tense and past participle of the verb peal, meaning to ring loudly or cause a bell or set of bells to sound. Its characteristic use is with church, cathedral, or civic bells: a tower may peal on an important occasion, mark the hour, or announce a celebration. The word suggests a powerful, sustained, resonant sound rather than a single brief ring, and it can also describe a voice or other sound that echoes through a space. Pealed is used in both British and American English, although pealled is especially common in British usage. The expression is often found in news and literary writing, where its vivid sound imagery makes it particularly effective. A related form, peal, is also used as a noun for the ringing of bells or for a sequence of bell strokes.
verbTo sound a peal, especially by ringing a bell or set of bells. In the past tense, it means that a bell or set of bells rang out.
- To ring or cause to ring loudly, especially a bell or set of bells.
- To sound loudly or reverberate, as with bells or a voice.
"The cathedral bells pealed across the town as the service began."
"The bells pealed at midnight, announcing the new year."
"Her laughter pealed through the hallway, startling the children."
When a church bell rings out in a full, resonant sequence, it is said to peal—giving the word an almost thunderous sense of sound filling the air.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does pealed come from?
The verb peal comes from Middle English usage and ultimately relates to the Middle English and Old English traditions of describing the ringing of bells. The modern form developed with a vowel change reflecting the pronunciation of the word, and the spelling pealed has become standard in American English while pealled is widespread in British English. The related noun peal names both the action of ringing bells and a resonant sequence of bell sounds. The word is also associated with older meanings of striking or sounding a bell repeatedly, often in a ceremonial or public setting.
Related word forms
How pealed is actually used
Pealed is the past tense and past participle of peal. It is especially associated with the sound of bells, but can also describe a voice or another sound that rings out loudly. In British English, pealled is the more common spelling, while pealed is also accepted.
Easily confused with pealed
Pealed means that bells rang out, whereas peeled means that something was removed from a surface, such as fruit or paint.