pule
Americanverb (used without object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of pule
First recorded in 1525–35; perhaps imitative
Explanation
To pule is to cry, but not loudly. Puling is weak, soft crying. It's a pathetic sound. Unfortunately, there are many ways to cry. You can bawl, which is loud crying. On the other end of the spectrum, you can pule. When you pule, you're crying weakly at a low volume. When dogs are scared, they often pule. Children sometimes pule when they don't get their way. People pule when they're sad, frightened, heartbroken, or tired. People pule when they don't have the energy to cry louder.
Vocabulary lists containing pule
"The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet," Vocabulary from Act 3
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Metamorphoses
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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:
Once everyone is present, Tūtū opens us with a pule, prayer.
From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila
We pule again, and then we line up to scoop food onto our plates.
From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila
He was blubbering openly, the sound issuing from between the crushed lips in a low-pitched, moaning tremolo—a disgusting sound, coming from a full-grown man—like the pule of a brainless thing.
From Prairie Flowers by Hendryx, James B. (James Beardsley)
In truth, the Hawaiians not unfrequently applied the term pule to compositions which we moderns find it hard to bring within our definitions of prayer.
From Unwritten Literature of Hawaii The Sacred Songs of the Hula by Emerson, Nathaniel Bright
O Hiiaka 16 ke kaula nana e hooulu na ma'i, 5A aeae a ulu 17 a noho i kou kuahu, Eia ka pule la, he pule ola, He noi ola nou, e-e!
From Unwritten Literature of Hawaii The Sacred Songs of the Hula by Emerson, Nathaniel Bright
McGinnis clung to the hearing room door as police puled him away.
From Salon ● Mar. 5, 2026
The user contradicted Optus's claims the breach was "sophisticated", saying they puled the data from a freely accessible software interface.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2022
A raft rocked angrily as burly men puled on wires to tame it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2015
These my toys, my gauds, That in the cradle—aye, 't my mother's breast— I puled and lisped at,—'Tis impossible, Tho', faith, 'tis not so, forasmuch as 'tis.
From Seven Men by Beerbohm, Max, Sir
Kent picked a spray of flowers and puled them ruthlessly to pieces.
From Lonesome Land by Bower, B. M.
“Some sectors are puling back on hiring intentions because their broader economic outlook is starting to become less rosy or they have industry-specific concerns,” said Nick Bunker, head of research at Indeed’s Hiring Lab.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 2, 2022
“I think he got caught and now he’s puling an excuse out from under the bed,” Adams said.
From Washington Times ● May 23, 2020
BST16:14 69 min Coleman drills a long one from right-back towards Walters, puling left.
From The Guardian ● Oct. 11, 2015
After the doors swung open, the crowd grew to more than 200 to collect their free issues with staffers puling titles from boxes on a wheeled, metal cargo crate by the counter.
From Seattle Times ● May 7, 2011
Why couldn't I dream of devoting myself to baby after fat puling baby like Dodo Conway?
From "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
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.
