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:
“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
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
Johnson wants to usher people who moan that today’s movies aren’t any good back into his sacred space, the cinema.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 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
Still, I sway, moan, “Caesar, Caesar. Please, say you’ll return. Please come back.”
From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
While most modern disciplines are friendly contests, the shin-kicking elicited winces and moans of sympathy from the crowd of more than 2,500 spectators on Friday.
From BBC ● May 30, 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
But it’s the contestants’ moans, screams and cramped expressions as they try to suppress their laughter that are really compelling.
From New York Times ● Jan. 18, 2024
It arrived as the music of dire necessity, the work song, the psalm, and was subsequently used to distract and entertain captors, or to scare them off with screams and moans they couldn’t decipher.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 1, 2023
They carry armfuls of mossy soil back to Haye, whose moans are dying now.
From "The Inquisitor's Tale" by Adam Gidwitz
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
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
“So proud, so proud!” moaned Miss Havisham, pushing away her grey hair with both her hands.
From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens
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
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
My shoes tap along the paving stones, the wind moaning through the missing windows.
From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron
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.
