ring back

phone someone again, or return their phone call

B1

What does "ring sb back" mean?

To ring someone back means to telephone them again after a previous call — either because you missed their call, you said you would call them later, or you need to follow up on something you spoke about before. It always involves a return or repeat call, not a first contact. You might ring someone back because you were busy when they called, or because you promised to get back to them with an answer. This phrasal verb is very common in everyday British and Irish English, especially in phone conversations and voicemail messages. It is not typically used by American English speakers, who prefer 'call back' instead.

Examples

How to use it

ring + pronoun + back

When the object is a pronoun, it must go between 'ring' and 'back' — this is the most common everyday pattern.

I'm with a customer right now — I'll ring you back in ten minutes.

ring + noun + back

With a short noun phrase, you can place it between 'ring' and 'back' or after 'back' — both are natural.

She rang the client back as soon as she had the information.

ring back (no object)

When it is already clear who will be called, you can use 'ring back' without naming the person.

I'm in a meeting — can I ring back in about half an hour?

ring back + time expression

Time expressions like 'later', 'tomorrow', or 'in five minutes' are very commonly added to say when the call will happen.

He wasn't in the office, so I promised to ring back first thing tomorrow.

ring + object + back + to/about + something

Use 'about' or 'to' to explain the reason for returning the call.

Could you ring me back about the booking when you get a chance?

Common Collocations

ring back laterring back in [X] minutesring back tomorrowforget to ring backpromise to ring backring back about something

Common Mistakes

Pronoun after 'back'

When the object is a pronoun like 'me', 'him', or 'them', it must go between 'ring' and 'back', never after 'back'.

✗ I'll ring back you later.
✓ I'll ring you back later.
Confusing 'ring back' with 'ring up'

'Ring back' means to return a call that has already happened — it implies a previous conversation or missed call. 'Ring up' means to call someone for the first time, with no prior contact.

✗ I'd never spoken to her before, so I rang her back to introduce myself.
✓ I'd never spoken to her before, so I rang her up to introduce myself.
Separating with a very long noun phrase

With long or complex noun phrases, it sounds more natural to keep 'ring back' together and place the object after it.

✗ I need to ring the person who left a message this morning back.
✓ I need to ring back the person who left a message this morning.

Usage

This is primarily British and Irish English; American English speakers say 'call back' instead. Both 'ring back' and 'call back' are understood and used in British English.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 'ring back' British English? Will Americans understand it?

'Ring back' is mainly used in British and Irish English. American English speakers typically say 'call back' instead. Most Americans will understand what you mean, but if you are speaking to an American, 'call back' sounds more natural to them.

Can I use 'ring back' in a passive sentence?

Yes, the passive is possible, but it is not very common in everyday conversation. You are more likely to hear it in formal or business contexts, for example: 'You'll be rung back as soon as someone is free.'

Does 'ring back' always mean returning someone else's call, or can I use it when I'm just calling again?

'Ring back' covers both situations. It can mean returning a call someone made to you, but it can also mean calling someone again after an earlier attempt — for example, if they were busy the first time you called. The key idea is that there was already some previous contact or call.

What are the most natural ways to use 'ring back' in everyday conversation?

The most common pattern is the contracted future: 'I'll ring you back'. You will also hear it in imperatives like 'Ring me back when you're free', and in questions like 'Has she rung back yet?' Adding a time expression such as 'in five minutes', 'later', or 'tomorrow' is very typical.

Related Phrasal Verbs

call sb/sth back

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