groan

American  

[grohn] / groʊn /

noun

1. a low, mournful sound uttered in pain or grief.

   the groans of dying soldiers.

2. a deep, inarticulate sound uttered in derision, disapproval, desire, etc.

3. a deep grating or creaking sound due to a sudden or continued overburdening, as with a great weight.

   We heard the groan of the ropes as the crane lowered the heavy cargo into the ship's hold.

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verb (used without object)

1. to utter a deep, mournful sound expressive of pain or grief.

2. to make a deep, inarticulate sound expressive of derision, disapproval, desire, etc.

3. to make a sound resembling a groan; resound harshly.

   The steps of the old house groaned under my weight.

4. to be overburdened or overloaded.

5. to suffer greatly or lamentably.

   groaning under an intolerable burden.

verb (used with object)

1. to utter or express with groans.

groan British  

/ ɡrəʊn /

noun

1. a prolonged stressed dull cry expressive of agony, pain, or disapproval

2. a loud harsh creaking sound, as of a tree bending in the wind

3. informal a grumble or complaint, esp a persistent one

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verb

1. to utter (low inarticulate sounds) expressive of pain, grief, disapproval, etc

   they all groaned at Larry's puns

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

3. (intr, usually foll by beneath or under) to be weighed down (by) or suffer greatly (under)

   the country groaned under the dictator's rule

4. informal (intr) to complain or grumble

Related Words

Groan, moan refer to sounds indicating deep suffering. A groan is a brief, strong, deep-throated sound emitted involuntarily under pressure of pain or suffering: The wounded man groaned when they lifted him. A moan is a prolonged, more or less continuous, low, inarticulate sound indicative of suffering, either physical or mental: She was moaning after the operation. She did not weep, but moaned softly.

Other Word Forms

• groaner
  noun
• groaning
  noun
• groaningly
  adverb
• undergroan
  noun
• ungroaning
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of groan

First recorded before 900; Middle English gronen, Old English grānian; cognate with German greinen “to whine”

Explanation

A groan is a sound of pain or disapproval that doesn't consist of words, usually heard after homework is assigned or bad jokes are told. People groan for lots of reasons: headaches, stomachaches, traffic jams, and bad news are just a few groan-worthy things that can provoke that moaning, "uuugghhhhh" sound. If someone is complaining about something, you could say she's "moaning and groaning." People like to moan and groan about the weather, politics, and just about everything else.

Example Sentences

Groan Ups isn't like Mischief Theatre's other shows.

From BBC • Dec. 19, 2019

Sox snub Comiskey for The Greed or maybe The Groan based on team play.

From New York Times • Aug. 25, 2016

Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast novels - Titus Groan, Gormenghast and Titus Alone - have been read in many ways.

From BBC • May 10, 2013

There are not many books as strange as Titus Groan, where everything is different - the characters, the ritual, the language and the extraordinary, brooding presence of the castle of Gormenghast itself.

From The Guardian • Apr. 25, 2013

"Groan and hold my head," she heard him murmuring as they entered the shop.

From Lifted Masks; stories by Glaspell, Susan

Related Words

• grunt
• sigh
• sob
• whine