wailing

American  

[wey-ling] / ˈweɪ lɪŋ /

adjective

1. uttering a prolonged, inarticulate, mournful cry, usually high-pitched or clear-sounding, as in grief or suffering.

   In the village we passed a funeral procession, the wailing widow following behind the body of her husband.

2. making a mournful sound, as a siren, music, the wind, etc..

   A wailing police siren nears, passes, and fades.

3. complaining, protesting, whining, or crying.

   He rubbed the bare foot of the wailing toddler and planted a kiss on it.

   They’re always trying to correct the market, usually in the interests of some wailing pressure group.

4. Slang. expressing emotion musically or verbally in an exciting, satisfying way.

   The song celebrates with a Cajun-flavored stomp accompanied by a wailing fiddle and screaming electric guitar.

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noun

1. a mournful cry or sound, or the act of making such a sound.

   The wailing of the mourners rose and fell, merging with the drums and the shaman’s chants.

2. an act or instance of complaining, protesting, etc..

   “All art is propaganda, despite the wailing of purists,” she sneered.

3. Slang. the act of expressing emotion musically or verbally in an exciting, satisfying way.

   At this live show from 1974, the soulful wailing of the chorus in the background is utterly spine-tingling.

Other Word Forms

• unwailing adjective
• wailingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of wailing

First recorded in 1350–1400; wail ( def. ) + -ing ² ( def. ) for the adjective senses; wail ( def. ) + -ing ¹ ( def. ) for the noun senses

Example Sentences

Eventually, the bus made its way out onto the main road and towards the team hotel some 15 minutes' drive away, leaving several supporters wailing and sobbing.

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026

As Héctor and the other paramedic, Julio César Vega, 28, entered the premises, a woman ran in wailing.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 2026

The wailing sound you just heard was a Cleveland Browns fan screaming Why do I do this to myself?

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 26, 2026

“Atlantic City” is given a fuller E Street treatment, with drums alongside Mr. Springsteen’s harmonica, Steve Van Zandt on wailing background vocals, and a midtrack percussion breakdown accompanied by Mr. Springsteen’s shouted count-off.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 14, 2025

Peach stopped wailing long enough to sneeze three times violently.

From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles

Related Words

• sobbing
• weeping