howling

[hou-ling]

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adjective

producing or uttering a howling noise: a howling mob.

desolate, dismal, or dreary: a howling wilderness.

Informal. very great; tremendous: a howling success.

Origin of howling

1250–1300; Middle English houlinge (gerund); see howl, -ing²

Related formshowl·ing·ly, adverb

howl

[houl]

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.

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

Related formsout·howl, verb (used with object)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for howling

moan, growl, groan, yelp, wail, roar, whimper, hoot, outcry, shriek, bellow, clamor, lament, whine, bawl, bay, keen, shout, quest, bark

Examples from the Web for howling

Contemporary Examples of howling

I had expected Alaska to be miserably cold, with howling winds and fierce storms.
Visiting the Arctic Circle…Before It’s Irreversibly Changed
Terry Greene Sterling
April 1, 2014
Conservative groups spent Tuesday howling at Boehner's betrayal.
House Passes Clean Debt Ceiling Extension With Limited GOP Support
Ben Jacobs
February 11, 2014
After all, a number of writers are howling about it and it clearly serves as an obstacle in the current era of voting.
The Baseball Hall of Fame is a Mess
Ben Jacobs
January 9, 2014
Then, she gets on the hood of his Ferrari, hikes up her skirt, and… grinds on it to completion, howling with ecstasy.
The 10 Best Movie Sex Scenes of 2013: ‘Blue Is the Warmest Color,’ ‘Spring Breakers,’ and More
Marlow Stern
December 19, 2013
How many more masseuses will be left out in the howling wind?
New iPhone a Problem for People Who Lack Fingerprints
Winston Ross
September 12, 2013

Historical Examples of howling

Now the wind came like a wolf down the Murchison Pass, howling and moaning.
Way of the Lawless
Max Brand
I was prodding for my food into a camp-kettle when they were howling for their pap.
The White Company
Arthur Conan Doyle
It was simply a concert of howling monkeys that had so terrified me!
Green Mansions
W. H. Hudson
In an instant the little room was filled with howling, fighting men.
The Monster Men
Edgar Rice Burroughs
It's sent as a warning to repent you of your sins, and it's howling because it hates to go back.
Good Indian
B. M. Bower

British Dictionary definitions for howling

howling

adjective

(prenominal) informal (intensifier)a howling success; a howling error

Derived Formshowlingly, adverb

howl

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

Word Origin and History for howling

howl

early 13c., houlen, probably ultimately of imitative origin; similar formations are found in other Germanic languages. Related: Howled; howling. As a noun from 1590s.