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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unmoanedadjective
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moanfullyadverb
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unmoaningadjective
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moanfuladjective
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moaninglyadverb
Conjugated Forms
Present
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have moanedperfect
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has moanedperfect 3rd person singular
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are moaningprogressive
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have been moaningperfect progressive
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is moaningprogressive 3rd person singular
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has been moaningperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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am moaningprogressive 1st person singular
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moaningparticiple
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moanssingular 3rd person
Past
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had moanedperfect
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was moaningprogressive singular
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had been moaningperfect progressive
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were moaningprogressive plural
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moanedsimple
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moanedparticiple
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.
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
Navalny was brought back to his cell, his wife said, where he lay down on the ground, pulled his legs up to his stomach and began to moan from pain.
From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 17, 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
Against Notre Dame, the collective moan in the Coliseum with yet another last-minute loss because of Riley’s poor play calling was the breaking point for this lifelong Trojan.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 7, 2024
Still, he stifles a moan as his wounded hand tries to manage the reins.
From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
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.
