moan
Americannoun
-
moans
plural
-
-
a prolonged, low sound uttered from physical or mental suffering.
-
a prolonged, low sound uttered from any other strong physical or mental sensation, especially pleasure.
-
-
any prolonged, low sound.
The alarming moan of the engines suggested they'd break down soon.
-
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)
-
moans,
present (3rd person singular)
-
moaned,
past participle, past
-
moaning
present participle
-
-
to make a prolonged, low sound from physical or mental suffering.
-
to make a prolonged, low sound from any other strong physical or mental sensation, especially pleasure.
-
-
(of inanimate objects) to make a prolonged, low sound.
The wind moaned through the trees.
-
to complain.
I may moan about the weather here, but at least it doesn't get hot.
verb (used with object)
-
moans,
present (3rd person singular)
-
moaned,
past participle, past
-
moaning
present participle
noun
-
a low prolonged mournful sound expressive of suffering or pleading
-
any similar mournful sound, esp that made by the wind
-
a grumble or complaint
verb
-
to utter (words) in a low mournful manner
-
(intr) to make a sound like a moan
-
(usually intr) to grumble or complain (esp in the phrase moan and groan )
Synonym Usage
See groan.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
moanernoun
-
moaningnoun
-
moanfuladjective
-
unmoanedadjective
-
unmoaningadjective
-
moanfullyadverb
-
moaninglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
moansimple
-
moanssimple
-
have moanedperfect
-
has moanedperfect
-
am moaningprogressive
-
are moaningprogressive
-
is moaningprogressive
-
have been moaningperfect progressive
-
has been moaningperfect progressive
Past
-
moanedsimple
-
had moanedperfect
-
was moaningprogressive
-
were moaningprogressive
-
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:
“Otherwise, you sit there and moan and groan and don’t vote. They’re going to do what they want,” David Goodman said.
From Slate ● Jul. 27, 2026
He meets the younger singer on her turf: The track is a theatrical pop confection with a busy, singsong melody, and Mr. Smith’s ageless cracked moan makes him sound like an approving father figure.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026
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
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
Fang shifted beside me and let out a low moan.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
"People are paying three times more for a loaf of bread now," she moans, her fingers resting on the soft white slices inside the plastic.
From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026
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
Phyllis, who always sees herself as the victim and not the aggressor, moans.
From New York Times ● Apr. 25, 2024
Her announcement evoked a series of moans and groans from the class.
From "The Circuit: Stories from the Life of a Migrant Child" by Francisco Jiménez
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
I know so many people who don't have the luxury of an insurance policy so I would feel like a sham if I moaned about my situation.
From BBC ● Jan. 2, 2026
Fails tried to get her daughter comfortable as she cried and moaned.
From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2024
“So maybe I won’t be warm,” Ms. Kadyrova, 85, moaned.
From New York Times ● Dec. 1, 2023
They moaned with hunger and joined the chase.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
“It was enough where the mama bear was moaning loudly trying to get help.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 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
But while Mother Russia’s not involved, you can almost hear her fatalistically moaning, “Just don’t bother!”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 26, 2026
And now in his moaning, and so far from any help, he heard it in himself—it rose from his bleeding, his cracked-open heart.
From "Go Tell It on the Mountain" by James Baldwin
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.
