wail

American  

[wayl] / weɪl /

verb (used without object)

• wails,
  present (3rd person singular)
• wailed,
  past participle,  past
• wailing
  present participle

1. to utter a prolonged, inarticulate, mournful cry, usually high-pitched or clear-sounding, as in grief or suffering.

   to wail with pain.

2. to make mournful sounds, as music or the wind.

3. to lament or mourn bitterly.

4. Jazz. to perform exceptionally well.

5. Slang. to express emotion musically or verbally in an exciting, satisfying way.

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verb (used with object)

• wails,
  present (3rd person singular)
• wailed,
  past participle,  past
• wailing
  present participle

1. to express deep sorrow for; mourn; lament; bewail.

   to wail the dead;

   to wail one's fate.

2. to express in wailing; cry or say in lamentation.

   to wail one's grief.

noun

• wails
  plural

1. the act of wailing.

2. a wailing cry, as of grief, pain, or despair.

3. any similar mournful sound.

   the wail of an old tune.

wail British  

/ weɪl /

verb

1. (intr) to utter a prolonged high-pitched cry, as of grief or misery

2. (intr) to make a sound resembling such a cry

   the wind wailed in the trees

3. (tr) to lament, esp with mournful sounds

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noun

1. a prolonged high-pitched mournful cry or sound

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• wailer
  noun
• unwailed
  adjective
• wailful
  adjective
• wailfully
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• wails
  plural

Participles

• wailing
  present
• wailed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• wail
  simple
• wails
  simple
• have wailed
  perfect
• has wailed
  perfect
• am wailing
  progressive
• are wailing
  progressive
• is wailing
  progressive
• have been wailing
  perfect progressive
• has been wailing
  perfect progressive

Past

• wailed
  simple
• had wailed
  perfect
• was wailing
  progressive
• were wailing
  progressive
• had been wailing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will wail
  simple
• will have wailed
  perfect
• will be wailing
  progressive
• will have been wailing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of wail

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English weile (verb and noun), perhaps derivative of Old English weilāwei wellaway ( def. ); compare Old English wǣlan “to torment,” Old Norse wǣla “to wail”

Explanation

To wail is to let loose a long loud cry. If you're feeling truly miserable, take a deep breath and wail as loudly as possible. When it comes to expressing unhappiness, wailing lies at the extreme end of the spectrum. So, it's best to save this response for life's most unpleasant moments — unless you're a jazz musician. In jazz terminology, wailing on one's instrument is actually a good thing. What's the connection between an eardrum-shattering expression of misery and a hot jam session? The answer to that question may depend on your personal musical preferences.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wail wails wailed wailing

With his rapid-fire mandolin playing and tenor wail, Buzz Busby delighted crowds in the honky-tonks of Washington, D.C.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

Sirens wail as ambulances and rescue vehicles race through the streets.

From Barron's ● Jun. 28, 2026

If you’ve wondered what would happen when a garage-rocker cowboy is joined by a punk who likes the Western wail of steel guitars, look no further than “Blame the Clown.”

From Salon ● Jun. 5, 2026

But their loud wail, which can be activated via a mobile app, can be heard about half a mile away.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2026

I’m worried her little fingers will get crushed and scoop her into my arms, quickly sitting her on the bench next to me before she starts to wail.

From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan

The constant air raids are a huge problem for businesses, many of which have to shut their doors every time a siren wails.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

"Literally, the entire group was there in the building, this is a terrible and extraordinary event," he said, as anguished wails from other pilgrims with him are heard over the video.

From Barron's ● Aug. 28, 2026

Yet amid the wails is heard a new maturity about the government’s role and fiscal limits.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026

“My grandmother was a sharecropper in Arkansas, and I know that this is the same thing,” a man shouts at one point as whistles shrill and a handheld siren wails.

From Slate ● Feb. 11, 2026

Somewhere a police siren wails thinly, up and down, up and down, regular tempo, crisis under control, just like Gerhard.

From "The Boy Who Dared" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Jamie Varley, 37, who earlier wailed for his mother, made the remark in the bereavement room at Blackpool Victoria Hospital with 13-month-old Preston Davey in his arms.

From BBC ● May 6, 2026

They wailed and sang as they beat their chests with their hands, a common mourning ritual in Iran.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 1, 2026

Sunday was the test that all championship teams must pass, and the Rams did so with frozen hands and puffy faces and a will that wailed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 19, 2026

“I’m not sure I’ve wept or wailed like that in several years,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 10, 2025

As we were leaving sirens wailed in the distance, coming toward us, and this long lanky guy stepped in front of me and said: “Y’all got any transportation?”

From "We Were Here" by Matt De La Peña

“I fought for that because I knew no DJ would cut that song off with Neal’s guitar wailing at the end of it. It was too brilliant.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

During Arbaeen, they show their grief, mourning with weeping and wailing in memory of Hussein.

From Barron's ● Aug. 1, 2026

This week, with air raid warnings wailing in the distance, Kyiv held a funeral for two sisters.

From BBC ● May 21, 2026

"Woken by huge bangs and wailing siren," he texted.

From BBC ● Mar. 1, 2026

All but two had their faces turned down, and the two with their heads thrown back were openly wailing.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

Related Words

• fuss
• grieve
• howl
• moan
• mourn
• sob
• weep
• whimper