wail
to utter a prolonged, inarticulate, mournful cry, usually high-pitched or clear-sounding, as in grief or suffering: to wail with pain.
to make mournful sounds, as music or the wind.
to lament or mourn bitterly.
Jazz. to perform exceptionally well.
Slang. to express emotion musically or verbally in an exciting, satisfying way.
the act of wailing.
a wailing cry, as of grief, pain, or despair.
any similar mournful sound: the wail of an old tune.
Origin of wail
1Other words from wail
- wail·er, noun
- un·wailed, adjective
Words that may be confused with wail
- wail , whale
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use wail in a sentence
Israel marks the genocide every year with a haunting siren that wails across the country.
But the optimists were vastly overshadowed by the wails of betrayal.
"It's really your fault," Veda wails, and Mildred recognizes the kernel of truth in her accusation.
My very bones seem on the rack; My spirit wails aloud; meseems My heart is thronged with funeral dreams.
Charles Baudelaire, His Life | Thophile GautierWhen they arrived at the cottage the wails were dying away, and Hadria advised that they should leave well alone.
The Daughters of Danaus | Mona Caird
The tumult increased; shouted thankgivings, and wails of despair; singing and praying and exhorting, clashing in wild confusion.
Alone | Marion HarlandThe wounded filled the air with pitiful wails, vainly imploring help.
The Pilgrim's Shell or Fergan the Quarryman | Eugne SueAmong these, are wails for the dead, and love songs of a simple and plaintive character.
The Indian in his Wigwam | Henry R. Schoolcraft
British Dictionary definitions for wail
/ (weɪl) /
(intr) to utter a prolonged high-pitched cry, as of grief or misery
(intr) to make a sound resembling such a cry: the wind wailed in the trees
(tr) to lament, esp with mournful sounds
a prolonged high-pitched mournful cry or sound
Origin of wail
1Derived forms of wail
- wailer, noun
- wailful, adjective
- wailfully, 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
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