moan
Americannoun
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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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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)
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:
While Americans moan about $4 to $5 a gallon gas, Europeans pay the equivalent of $7 to $9 a gallon.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 6, 2026
To mention the most popular moan, the silver screen has been losing its monopoly on displaying moving pictures since the arrival of TV in the 1940s.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 9, 2025
The second time I saw the road thriller “Sirāt,” I couldn’t wait to hear the audience moan.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2025
Training with his uncle meant he could not "moan or fuss", and he said he was treated the same way as all the other boxers at the gym in Essex.
From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2025
I rolled over on my stomach and gave a long, miserable moan.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Weakened and raspy from years in suspended cryosleep, when he moans “Where am I?” it comes out “Mrregghh errgh mreeh?”
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 18, 2026
“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
Besides, moans about players being ill suited to the new head coach’s systems give lie to the theory some hold that United only kept Ten Hag until something better comes along.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2024
Phyllis, who always sees herself as the victim and not the aggressor, moans.
From New York Times ● Apr. 25, 2024
At night, Papi said, he could hear the moans of the ships leaving Havana.
From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García
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
Before his winner he hit both posts, moaned and furiously gesticulated at the referee and team-mates, while also being pursued by a pitch invader at one stage.
From BBC ● Sep. 8, 2024
I moaned and groaned about the ridiculous minutiae with all my mom friends, but secretly I loved every video about 12 ways to decorate with fairy lights.
From Salon ● Aug. 31, 2024
“So maybe I won’t be warm,” Ms. Kadyrova, 85, moaned.
From New York Times ● Dec. 1, 2023
“Braaaaaains!” he moaned in his best Morpho voice.
From "A Monster of a Mystery (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #5)" by Franklin W. Dixon
Here, Fay Victor, a uniquely daring and creative singer, adorns her vocal with all manner of creaking, wailing, moaning and scatting, yet she maintains Bey’s feeling of directing a congregation.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 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
I can understand why he did that, it's common sense, but I don't see many managers now moaning about it - even the ones who want to play in a different way to me.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2025
“Y’all girls cry about it tonight, but come tomorrow I don’t want to hear none of this sniffling and moaning over those finger-popping hoodlums.”
From "P.S. Be Eleven" by Rita Williams-Garcia
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
