wallow

[wol-oh]

verb (used without object)

1. to roll about or lie in water, snow, mud, dust, or the like, as for refreshment.

   Goats wallowed in the dust.

2. to live self-indulgently; luxuriate; revel.

   to wallow in luxury; to wallow in sentimentality.

   Synonyms: bask, swim

3. to flounder about; move along or proceed clumsily or with difficulty.

   A gunboat wallowed toward port.

4. to surge up or billow forth, as smoke or heat.

   Waves of black smoke wallowed into the room.

noun

1. an act or instance of wallowing.

2. a place in which animals wallow.

   hog wallow; an elephant wallow.

3. the indentation produced by animals wallowing.

   a series of wallows across the farmyard.

wallow

/ ˈwɒləʊ /

verb

1. (esp of certain animals) to roll about in mud, water, etc, for pleasure

2. to move about with difficulty

3. to indulge oneself in possessions, emotion, etc

   to wallow in self-pity

4. (of smoke, waves, etc) to billow

noun

1. the act or an instance of wallowing

2. a muddy place or depression where animals wallow

Other Word Forms

• wallower noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of wallow¹

before 900; Middle English walwe, Old English wealwian to roll; cognate with Gothic walwjan; akin to Latin volvere

Word History and Origins

Origin of wallow¹

Old English wealwian to roll (in mud); related to Latin volvere to turn, Greek oulos curly, Russian valun round pebble

Example Sentences

Results are decent, and there is a rising cash balance, but the stock price is wallowing at less than half its 2007 high.

Read more on Barron's

I remember mourning Grandma’s passing, wallowing in my sadness, only to come to Asamando and meet Ama—and to have her claim to be Grandma.

Read more on Literature

He tries not to wallow in regret but does feel remorse about the people he hurt with his “cruel” behavior during his drinking years.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Yet hearing news of others’ deliveries left me wallowing in a puddle of jealousy.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It's a return to the cheeky good humour he's known for - because, Sam being Sam, he'd rather count his blessings than wallow in his feelings.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• flounder 
• lurch 
• totter