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

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

But the American supporters weren’t wallowing in silence.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The actors wallow in the interstices of the dialogue.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“We don’t have to wallow in the misery that people expect us to be wallowing in. We can use those obstacles and stand on them. And I did.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• flounder 
• lurch 
• totter