wail
verb (used without object)
to utter a prolonged, inarticulate, mournful cry, usually high-pitched or clear-sounding, as in grief or suffering.
were 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.
When US President Joe Biden walked through Kyiv in February 2023 on a surprise visit to show solidarity with Volodymyr Zelensky, his Ukrainian counterpart, air sirens were wailing.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2024
The Russian news outlet Baza reported, citing local residents, that air raid sirens were wailing and an explosion was heard.
From Reuters ● Dec. 26, 2022
“Last week we were still sitting in the bunker and the sirens were wailing nonstop.”
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 4, 2022
Again, in the distance there were wailing sirens.
From The New Yorker ● Jan. 11, 2015
Now that the emperors were wailing at the ship, it sounded to everyone’s ears like a dirge.
From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong
