wail
verb (used without object)
to utter a prolonged, inarticulate, mournful cry, usually high-pitched or clear-sounding, as in grief or suffering.
was wailing
-
past progressiveof wail.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
“Andrea described how she had never seen her father cry until they had gotten the news of Sabrina’s death, and he dropped to his knees and was wailing about his baby.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 17, 2024
“There was one poor woman in front of the apartment block next to ours who was wailing and crying,” Willard said, adding that the scene left him deeply saddened.
From Washington Times ● Jun. 7, 2023
He was wailing and crying out in agony, Aughtry told Yvonne White.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 27, 2022
We slogged through, with no end in sight, and there was wailing.
From New York Times ● Dec. 18, 2021
A woman was wailing from one of the classrooms.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
