wail

[ weyl ]

/ weɪl /

verb (used without object)

to utter a prolonged, inarticulate, mournful cry, usually high-pitched or clear-sounding, as in grief or suffering: to wail with pain.

to make mournful sounds, as music or the wind.

to lament or mourn bitterly.

Jazz. to perform exceptionally well.

Slang. to express emotion musically or verbally in an exciting, satisfying way.

verb (used with object)

to express deep sorrow for; mourn; lament; bewail: to wail the dead; to wail one's fate.

to express in wailing; cry or say in lamentation: to wail one's grief.

noun

the act of wailing.

a wailing cry, as of grief, pain, or despair.

any similar mournful sound: the wail of an old tune.

Words nearby wail

waichow, waif, waikaremoana, waikato, waikiki, wail, wail like a banshee, wailful, wailsome, wailuku, wain

Origin of wail

1300–50; Middle English weile (v. and noun), perhaps derivative of Old English weilā(wei) well-away; compare Old English wǣlan to torment, Old Norse wǣla to wail

OTHER WORDS FROM wail

wail·er, nounwail·ing·ly, adverbun·wailed, adjectiveun·wail·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH wail

wail whale

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Examples from the Web for wailing

When the Iraqis resume shouting and wailing at you, Hassan translates every exclamation until you tell him to stop.
Whatever You Do Someone Will Die. A Short Story About Impossible Choices in Iraq|Nathan Bradley Bethea|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In his 2000 visit to Israel, the Polish pope placed a note at the Wailing Wall seeking forgiveness for Christian anti-Semitism.
Pope Francis’s Sister Souljah Moment?|Evan Gahr|May 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The show kicks off with Tony, who has one Jewish parent and absolutely no faith, visiting the Wailing Wall.
Watching Anthony Bourdain in Palestine|Maysoon Zayid|September 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The entire nation is mourning the news, shell-shocked by images of wailing children fleeing the schools single file.
What We Know So Far About Connecticut School Shooter Adam Lanza|Kevin Fallon|December 14, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Weaving through the jungle of wailing ambulances on 1st Avenue was a bright-eyed young dad, light-blue bassinet in tow.
Hundreds Evacuated From NYU’s Tisch Hospital in Hurricane Sandy|Abby Haglage|October 30, 2012|DAILY BEAST
The band sounded a wailing chord, and the whole audience broke into loud, heartrending weeping.
The Imported Bridegroom|Abraham Cahan
And instead of a wild lamentation, a wailing cry, there should be a solemn silence.
The Prophet Ezekiel|Arno C. Gaebelein
On this they all joined in a cry of wailing and Achilles led them in their lament.
The Iliad|Homer
Outside the wind was wailing like the damned, and the rain which had recommenced with new vigour, rattled noisily upon the panes.
The Trampling of the Lilies|Rafael Sabatini
Leaden cloud had veiled the peaks since early morning, and now the pines were wailing dolefully beneath a bitter breeze.
Delilah of the Snows|Harold Bindloss

British Dictionary definitions for wailing

wail

/ (weɪl) /

verb

(intr) to utter a prolonged high-pitched cry, as of grief or misery

(intr) to make a sound resembling such a crythe wind wailed in the trees

(tr) to lament, esp with mournful sounds

noun

a prolonged high-pitched mournful cry or sound

Derived forms of wail

wailer, nounwailful, adjectivewailfully, adverb

Word Origin for wail

C14: of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse vǣla to wail, Old English wā woe

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

wail

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

noun

Words related to wail

Words nearby wail

Origin of wail

OTHER WORDS FROM wail

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH wail

Examples from the Web for wailing

British Dictionary definitions for wailing

verb

noun

Derived forms of wail

Word Origin for wail