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:
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
Patient Fearghas Powell said: "I feel like I moan a lot but it’s because I’m just impatient with this life, I want my old life back."
From BBC ● Dec. 10, 2024
I crank the tiller to turn us away from them—but slowly this time so that the rudder won’t moan.
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
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
"I think what you would say about Craig, and a lot of people wouldn't see it, is his professionalism," adds Given, who once joked Bellamy "probably moans in his sleep".
From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2025
Phyllis, who always sees herself as the victim and not the aggressor, moans.
From New York Times ● Apr. 25, 2024
She moans again and clamps her hands over her mouth, her eyes welling up.
From "The Knife of Never Letting Go" by Patrick Ness
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
He added: "As farmers we've always moaned about the weather, but these extremes are a real challenge."
From BBC ● Feb. 5, 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
“I wasn’t any good at trig in high school,” Mother moaned, slamming the book shut.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
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
"If you don't like it, don't use them. Agents who are moaning would struggle with their business if they decided to come off it," Keogh said.
From BBC ● Apr. 1, 2026
I wanted to get back to my world, but the fetterlings and the moaning bone ships in the Burning Sea...they stood between me and home.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
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.
