moan
Americannoun
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moans
plural
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a prolonged, low sound uttered from physical or mental suffering.
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a prolonged, low sound uttered from any other strong physical or mental sensation, especially pleasure.
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any prolonged, low sound.
The alarming moan of the engines suggested they'd break down soon.
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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)
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moans,
present (3rd person singular)
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moaned,
past participle, past
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moaning
present participle
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to make a prolonged, low sound from physical or mental suffering.
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to make a prolonged, low sound from any other strong physical or mental sensation, especially pleasure.
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(of inanimate objects) to make a prolonged, low sound.
The wind moaned through the trees.
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to complain.
I may moan about the weather here, but at least it doesn't get hot.
verb (used with object)
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moans,
present (3rd person singular)
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moaned,
past participle, past
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moaning
present participle
noun
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a low prolonged mournful sound expressive of suffering or pleading
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any similar mournful sound, esp that made by the wind
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a grumble or complaint
verb
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to utter (words) in a low mournful manner
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(intr) to make a sound like a moan
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(usually intr) to grumble or complain (esp in the phrase moan and groan )
Synonym Usage
See groan.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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moanernoun
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moaningnoun
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moanfuladjective
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unmoanedadjective
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unmoaningadjective
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moanfullyadverb
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moaninglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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moansimple
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moanssimple
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have moanedperfect
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has moanedperfect
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am moaningprogressive
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are moaningprogressive
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is moaningprogressive
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have been moaningperfect progressive
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has been moaningperfect progressive
Past
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moanedsimple
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had moanedperfect
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was moaningprogressive
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were moaningprogressive
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had been moaningperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of moan
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English mone, man(e) (noun), Old English mān, unrecorded but inferred from its derivative mǣnan “to mourn”
Explanation
The low sound you make when you're in pain is called a moan. A bad stomachache can leave you bent over, making soft moans. Moan is also a verb, so whenever someone is hurting enough — physically or mentally — there's the possibility they'll moan in despair or discomfort. You can also use this word to mean "whine" or "complain," like when your little sister moans about how much smaller her slice of pie is than yours. Experts think moan is related to the Old English word mænan, "complain or moan," but that it's also imitative — resembling the sound it describes.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“Otherwise, you sit there and moan and groan and don’t vote. They’re going to do what they want,” David Goodman said.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
He meets the younger singer on her turf: The track is a theatrical pop confection with a busy, singsong melody, and Mr. Smith’s ageless cracked moan makes him sound like an approving father figure.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
The score by Joseph Bishara is shivery with chorales that moan like wraiths in the wind.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2026
Johnson wants to usher people who moan that today’s movies aren’t any good back into his sacred space, the cinema.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 2025
A small moan escaped from Poppy's mouth when he saw her through the iron bars, but he wasn't crying.
From "Habibi" by Naomi Shihab Nye
"People are paying three times more for a loaf of bread now," she moans, her fingers resting on the soft white slices inside the plastic.
From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026
“I was just thinking about the Supreme Court,” he moans.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 14, 2025
“Why am I getting involved with a cinephile?” moans Beau-Beau, speaking for many an indie producer to follow.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2025
But it’s the contestants’ moans, screams and cramped expressions as they try to suppress their laughter that are really compelling.
From New York Times ● Jan. 18, 2024
He does not look directly at Werner, and his words are close to moans.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
“It’s my trick ankle,” I moaned, adding that I’d had this surgery before, after a snow skiing accident in my late 20s.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 23, 2026
Many in the audience laughed and applauded, when they should have gasped or moaned.
From Slate ● Sep. 10, 2026
After also being forced to wait on the fairway, McIlroy stuck his approach to the green well below the hole and exasperatedly moaned about how long he was having to wait between shots.
From BBC ● May 16, 2026
She sang open-throated declarations, recited broken poetic verses, scatted with the authority of a jazz singer, moaned with bluesy intent, and occasionally let loose an unbridled shriek or giggle.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 4, 2026
Nevertheless, as the wind moaned across the heath and the Crochan loomed before him like an iron shadow, he thought once again of the brooch, and he buried his face in his hands and wept.
From "The Black Cauldron" by Lloyd Alexander
The Daily Star also heralds the news of Meghan's possible role as "Meg's lock stock... and two moaning Royals".
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026
The director’s moaning score here, supplemented with sputtering engines and clanking chains, underline the movie’s ghost-story vibe — the sense that poor Nick is both alive and dead.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
“Get me rewrite!” he seems to be moaning.
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026
Antonelli also complained about Russell's driving over the team radio - but was told by Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff to stop "moaning".
From BBC ● May 23, 2026
The wintery trees clacked their branches, ticking and moaning.
From "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich
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