wail

American  

[weyl] / weɪl /

verb (used without object)

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)

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

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

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

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”

Example Sentences

A short, sharp wail, immediately smothered, broke from her.

From Literature

Air raid sirens wail, blaring from speakers mounted on buildings.

From Literature

But at night car lights flash across the dark living room, sirens wail, the clock in the kitchen tick-tick.ticks, and I think about the terrible things that could have happened to Mom.

From Literature

I’ll never forget the wail Iris let out when she heard what had happened.

From Literature

Mamá lets out a wail that I can hear as I am huffing and puffing up the tall staircase to our apartment after returning home from school.

From Literature

Related Words

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