bawl

American  

[bawl] / bɔl /

verb (used without object)

1. to cry or wail lustily.

   Synonyms:

   wail, bellow, roar, squall, yowl, howl

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verb (used with object)

1. to utter or proclaim by outcry; shout out.

   to bawl one's dissatisfaction;

   bawling his senseless ditties to the audience.

2. to offer for sale by shouting, as a hawker.

   a peddler bawling his wares.

noun

1. a loud shout; outcry.

2. a period or spell of loud crying or weeping.

3. Chiefly Midland and Western U.S. the noise made by a calf.

verb phrase

1. bawl out to scold vociferously; reprimand or scold vigorously.

   Your father will bawl you out when he sees this mess.

bawl British  

/ bɔːl /

verb

1. (intr) to utter long loud cries, as from pain or frustration; wail

2. to shout loudly, as in anger

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noun

1. a loud shout or cry

Other Word Forms

• bawler
  noun
• bawling
  noun
• outbawl
  verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of bawl

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin baulāre “to bark,” from Germanic; compare Old Norse baula “to low,” baula “cow,” perhaps a conflation of belja ( see bell ²) with an unrecorded old root bhu-

Explanation

To bawl is to weep or wail loudly. If you tend to bawl at sad movies, you might want to bring some tissues for wiping your tears and blowing your nose. If a baby bawls all night, he doesn't just cry — he sobs and howls. You can also use the verb to talk about other loud sounds, like shouts: "He bawls out orders while we stand there, confused," or even amusement: "She bawls with laughter all through the woman's strange speech." In the 15th century, to bawl was to "bark like a dog," from the Old Norse baula, "to low or moo like a cow."

Example Sentences

Around ten years ago, a book was published in Germany with the title “Go On and Bawl: A Generation and its Luxury Problems.”

From Salon • Dec. 15, 2019

After only four games this Bruins football team is already Bawl Eligible.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 5, 2018

Once a year, the dignified Bond Club of New York lets off steam�in the faces of the biggest targets it can find�in the Bawl Street Journal, a ribald parody of the Wall Street Journal.

From Time Magazine Archive

His laugh-provoker is the Bawl Street Journal, a bawdy scapegrace parody of the highly reputable Wall Street Journal.

From Time Magazine Archive

Bawl away, Charon, if it gives you any pleasure.

From Works of Lucian of Samosata — Volume 01 by Fowler, F. G. (Francis George)

Related Words

• holler