growl

[groul]

verb (used without object)

1. to utter a deep guttural sound of anger or hostility.

   The dog growled at the mail carrier.

2. to murmur or complain angrily; grumble.

3. to rumble.

   The thunder growled.

4. Jazz.,  to use flutter-tonguing in playing a wind instrument.

verb (used with object)

1. to express by growling.

noun

1. the act or sound of growling.

2. Jazz.,  the technique of flutter-tonguing.

growl

/ ɡraʊl /

verb

1. (of animals, esp when hostile) to utter (sounds) in a low inarticulate manner

   the dog growled at us

2. to utter (words) in a gruff or angry manner

   he growled an apology

3. (intr) to make sounds suggestive of an animal growling

   the thunder growled around the lake

noun

1. the act or sound of growling

2. jazz an effect resembling a growl, produced at the back of the throat when playing a wind instrument

Other Word Forms

• growlingly adverb
• undergrowl noun
• ungrowling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of growl¹

1350–1400; Middle English groule to rumble (said of the bowels); cognate with German grollen

Word History and Origins

Origin of growl¹

C18: from earlier grolle, from Old French grouller to grumble

Synonym Study

See complain.

Example Sentences

The object of his growl was a journalist who spent two years battling him on the Dodgers beat.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

As a child, Lulu modelled herself on James Brown and Big Mama Thornton – gritty R&B singers who lent their grit and growl to Lulu's version of Shout.

Read more on BBC

That voice is all purr and growl, like a lion clawing its way through velvet.

Read more on BBC

She dropped into her gravelly Cookie Monster growl for the answer: “Brown food tastes good.”

Read more on Salon

Tasmanian devils have “noisy, dramatic feeding frenzies filled with growls and screeches” when they gather around a carcass, zoo officials said.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• grunt 
• howl 
• moan 
• rumble 

When To Use

What does growl mean?

To growl is to make a deep, rumbling grrrrr sound in the throat, like a guard dog does at an intruder. Growling is typically interpreted as an attempt to intimidate or show hostility.Growl can also be used as a noun to refer to such a sound, as in We heard a terrifying growl in the woods.Growling is most often associated with dogs, but other animals can growl or make sounds that can be considered growls, such as bears. People can growl in this way—a young child might growl when throwing a tantrum.In the context of people, though, the word is more commonly used in a figurative way meaning to say something in a low, gruff, angry tone, as in “Get out now!” he growled.Sometimes, it’s used in the context of a thing that’s making a deep rumbling sound, as in Listen to that engine growl! or The growl of the thunder was moving closer.Example: We’ve had the same mail carrier for years, but my dog still growls at her.