howl

[ houl ]

/ haʊl /

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See synonyms for: howl / howled / howling on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

to utter a loud, prolonged, mournful cry, as that of a dog or wolf.

to utter a similar cry in distress, pain, rage, etc.; wail.

to make a sound like an animal howling: The wind howls through the trees.

Informal. to go on a spree; enjoy oneself without restraint.

verb (used with object)

to utter with howls: to howl the bad news.

to drive or force by howls (often followed by down): to howl down the opposition.

noun

the cry of a dog, wolf, etc.

a cry or wail, as of pain, rage, or protest.

a sound like wailing: the howl of the wind.

a loud, scornful laugh or yell.

something that causes a laugh or a scornful yell, as a joke or funny or embarrassing situation.

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Origin of howl

1300–50; Middle English hulen, houlen (v.); cognate with Dutch huilen,Low German hülen,German heulen,Danish hyle; akin to Old Norse ȳla

OTHER WORDS FROM howl

outhowl, verb (used with object)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use howl in a sentence

The Scythians doing this howled with joy, according to the Father of History.
This Is Your E-Cigarette on Drugs|Daniel Genis|July 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Newspapers howled, Congress investigated, and the “I” word, impeachment, was bandied about.
The Taxonomy of Scandals: Is Obama Nearing a Breaking Point?|Lloyd Green|May 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
And when he appointed Muslim or openly gay judges to the bench, some conservatives howled, but nothing terrible happened.
GOP Needs More Northeast Republicans to Save the Party|John Avlon|January 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST
If Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker were mayor of Chicago, labor and allies would have howled him down.
Did Rahm Blink?|Justin Green|September 19, 2012|DAILY BEAST

The president had howled with laughter and sent Buckey, his personal aide, out to find her missing shoe.
Meet the First Female President|Nicolle Wallace|October 17, 2010|DAILY BEAST
They cursed, they howled; they heaped upon us the most violent names; they threatened to tear us to pieces.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
As Gale and Phyllis lay down on their bed of boughs in the tent with Valerie, a coyote howled dismally in the distance.
The Adventure Girls at K Bar O|Clair Blank
Carlyle said of a dog that howled at the moon, "He would have been a poet, if he could have found a publisher."
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 17, No. 101, March, 1866|Various
She howled and sprang up on Bregg, butting her great head into his shoulder, wriggling with delight.
The Stars, My Brothers|Edmond Hamilton
They howled in rage; they put their gigantic shoulders together and tried to upset the earth.
Black Diamonds|Mr Jkai

British Dictionary definitions for howl

howl

/ (haʊl) /

noun

a long plaintive cry or wail characteristic of a wolf or hound

a similar cry of pain or sorrow

slang

a person or thing that is very funny
a prolonged outburst of laughter

electronics an unwanted prolonged high-pitched sound produced by a sound-producing system as a result of feedback

verb

to express in a howl or utter such cries

(intr) (of the wind, etc) to make a wailing noise

(intr) informal to shout or laugh

Word Origin for howl

C14: houlen; related to Middle High German hiuweln, Middle Dutch hūlen, Danish hyle

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

howl

Origin of howl

OTHER WORDS FROM howl

Words related to howl

How to use howl in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for howl

Word Origin for howl