moan
- a prolonged, low, inarticulate sound uttered from or as if from physical or mental suffering.
- any similar sound: the moan of the wind.
- complaint or lamentation.
- to utter moans, as of pain or grief.
- (of the wind, sea, trees, etc.) to make any sound suggestive of such moans: The wind moaned through the trees.
- to utter (something) inarticulately or pitifully, as if in lamentation: He moaned his response.
- to lament or bemoan: to moan one's fate.
Origin of moan
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comExamples from the Web for moaning
Contemporary Examples
“Keep me coming, keep me going, keep me humming, keep me moaning,” she pleads in the chorus.
Patients and employees were dazed, crying, and moaning, he said.
And before he went over to talk to them, he came over to my office, and he was moaning and groaning.
Malika turned back to Hossein, who was folded up in his chair and moaning softly.
The new fangled metal contraption left their animal wheezing, moaning, and screeching as only a horse does.
Historical Examples
Now the wind came like a wolf down the Murchison Pass, howling and moaning.
Way of the LawlessMax Brand
Whenever the turnkey was coming he was groaning and moaning on the bed.
Tales And Novels, Volume 9 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
The oak tree beside it stood quieted of its moaning and tossing.
Bride of the MistletoeJames Lane Allen
In the most pathetic way she dragged herself after me, moaning and beseeching for help.
Concerning CatsHelen M. Winslow
A woman is holding her head and moaning and threatening to faint all over the place.
The Flying CuspidorsV. R. Francis
moan
- a low prolonged mournful sound expressive of suffering or pleading
- any similar mournful sound, esp that made by the wind
- a grumble or complaint
- 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)
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for moaning
moan
n.
c.1200, "lamentation, mourning, weeping; complaining, the expressing of complaints; a complaint; lover's complaint; accusation, charge," probably from an unrecorded Old English *man "complaint," related to Old English mænan "complain, moan," also "tell, intend, signify" (see mean (v.1)); but OED discounts this connection. Meaning "long, low inarticulate murmur from some prolonged pain" is first recorded 1670s, "with onomatopoeic suggestion" [OED].
moan
v.
mid-13c., "mourn (someone); regret, bewail;" c.1300, "to lament, grieve; utter moans;" probably from Old English *manan, related to mænan "to lament" (see moan (n.)). From 1724 as "to make a low, mournful sound." Related: Moaned; moaning.