bawl

American  

[bawl] / bɔl /

verb (used without object)

1. to cry or wail lustily.

   Synonyms:

   wail, bellow, roar, squall, yowl, howl

---

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

---

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

I’m making my way over to my dad, and I’m just seeing him bawl.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

The meeting was called after Thursday’s bawl on Copacabana that saw nine arrested across the city’s affluent southern zone, police said.

From Washington Times • Nov. 3, 2023

A fan since the age of four, he has travelled with his mum Penny, and added: "I'm just going to bawl my eyes out the whole time, I just know that for a fact."

From BBC • May 16, 2023

The punchline rocks the audience, who bawl with laughter, interspersed with oohing.

From Salon • Mar. 10, 2023

I knew that I was going to bawl so I went to my room and lay down on the bed.

From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls

Related Words

• holler