moan

[ mohn ]
See synonyms for moan on Thesaurus.com
noun
    • a prolonged, low sound uttered from physical or mental suffering.

    • a prolonged, low sound uttered from any other strong physical or mental sensation, especially pleasure.

  1. any prolonged, low sound: The alarming moan of the engines suggested they'd break down soon.

  1. complaint or lamentation: Despite last year's moan about how much effort Christmas is, I'm feeling up to it this year.

verb (used without object)
    • to make a prolonged, low sound from physical or mental suffering.

    • to make a prolonged, low sound from any other strong physical or mental sensation, especially pleasure.

  1. (of inanimate objects) to make a prolonged, low sound: The wind moaned through the trees.

  1. to complain: I may moan about the weather here, but at least it doesn't get hot.

verb (used with object)
  1. to utter (something) inarticulately or pitifully: He moaned his response.

  2. to lament or express grief over; bemoan: It does no good to moan your position in life instead of taking action.

Origin of moan

1
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English mone, man(e) (noun), Old English mān, unrecorded but inferred from its derivative mǣnan “to mourn”

synonym study For moan

1. See groan.

Other words for moan

Other words from moan

  • moan·ful, adjective
  • moan·ful·ly, adverb
  • moan·ing·ly, adverb
  • un·moaned, adjective
  • un·moan·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use moan in a sentence

  • But now her strength was failing her, he was certain; her moans were becoming more frequent, her protests more vehement.

    Love's Pilgrimage | Upton Sinclair
  • Then the deed at Cefalu—and that accursed child Eleanor still remains to drive me wild with her moans and her sorrow.

    God Wills It! | William Stearns Davis
  • All were silent; the quiet that prevailed was only broken by the moans and cries of the sufferers in the carts.

    The British Expedition to the Crimea | William Howard Russell
  • So the captive sinks and moans when he finds that his break for freedom has led only to the tightening of his chains.

    Love's Pilgrimage | Upton Sinclair
  • The moans which I had before heard again smote my ear, and calmed my agitation with wonder and pity.

    Rule of the Monk | Giuseppe Garibaldi

British Dictionary definitions for moan

moan

/ (məʊn) /


noun
  1. a low prolonged mournful sound expressive of suffering or pleading

  2. any similar mournful sound, esp that made by the wind

  1. a grumble or complaint

verb
  1. to utter (words) in a low mournful manner

  2. (intr) to make a sound like a moan

  1. (usually intr) to grumble or complain (esp in the phrase moan and groan)

Origin of moan

1
C13: related to Old English mǣnan to grieve over

Derived forms of moan

  • moaner, noun
  • moanful, adjective
  • moaning, noun, adjective
  • moaningly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012