moan

[mohn]

noun

1. 1. a prolonged, low sound uttered from physical or mental suffering.

   2. a prolonged, low sound uttered from any other strong physical or mental sensation, especially pleasure.

2. any prolonged, low sound.

   The alarming moan of the engines suggested they'd break down soon.

3. 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)

1. 1. to make a prolonged, low sound from physical or mental suffering.

   2. to make a prolonged, low sound from any other strong physical or mental sensation, especially pleasure.

   Synonyms: mourn, grieve

2. (of inanimate objects) to make a prolonged, low sound.

   The wind moaned through the trees.

3. to complain.

   I may moan about the weather here, but at least it doesn't get hot.

verb (used with object)

1. to utter (something) inarticulately or pitifully.

   He moaned his response.

2. to lament or express grief over; bemoan.

   It does no good to moan your position in life instead of taking action.

   Synonyms: deplore, mourn

moan

/ məʊn /

noun

1. a low prolonged mournful sound expressive of suffering or pleading

2. any similar mournful sound, esp that made by the wind

3. a grumble or complaint

verb

1. to utter (words) in a low mournful manner

2. (intr) to make a sound like a moan

3. (usually intr) to grumble or complain (esp in the phrase moan and groan )

Other Word Forms

• moanful adjective
• moanfully adverb
• moaningly adverb
• unmoaned adjective
• unmoaning adjective
• moaning noun
• moaner noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of moan¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English mone, man(e) (noun), Old English mān, unrecorded but inferred from its derivative mǣnan “to mourn”

Word History and Origins

Origin of moan¹

C13: related to Old English mǣnan to grieve over

Synonym Study

See groan.

Example Sentences

Mom’s anguished childbirth moaning segues to those of young women nearby having their babies ripped from their arms and thrown into a bonfire.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The second time I saw the road thriller “Sirāt,” I couldn’t wait to hear the audience moan.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

All of them were sweating and moaning to price the risks of these CDOs their firms had created.

Read more on Literature

If my players were moaning and sweating, I knew they were working hard enough!

Read more on BBC

But she joked her mum "would probably moan getting into it" if she was still here.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• carp 
• grieve 
• gripe 
• grumble 
• mourn 
• sigh 
• sob 
• wail