WordGarden.iomoan
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /mˈəʊn/
US
- /ˈmoʊn/
Meanings
Verb
to make a long low sound because of pain, sadness, or pleasure
to complain in a tired or whining way
Noun
a long low sound expressing pain, sadness, or pleasure
a complaint or whining expression of dissatisfaction
Beyond the definition
A moan is a long, low sound that usually shows pain, sadness, or discomfort. You might hear it from someone who has hurt their leg, from a person who is tired and upset, or even from an old house when the wind moves through it. The word can also be used as a verb when someone complains in a weary or unhappy way.
It is not always negative, though. Sometimes a person lets out this kind of sound when they feel relief or pleasure, like when they sink into a warm bath after a long day. In everyday English, especially in British English, people also use it for complaining too much, as in someone always moaning about the weather.
To moan means to make a long, low sound, usually to show pain, sadness, worry, or discomfort. It is more drawn out than a quick cry, and it often suggests that the feeling lasts for more than a moment. An injured hiker might moan with each step, and someone might let out a moan of frustration after losing their keys for the third time in one day.
This sound can be physical or emotional. A person may moan because their back hurts, because they are grieving, or because they are worn out and fed up. The word also works for complaining in speech. If someone keeps moaning about the weather, their job, or a late train, they are not just making a sound; they are speaking in an unhappy, complaining way.
The sound itself helps explain the word. It is not sharp or sudden. It is stretched out and full of feeling. People, animals, and even things in stories or descriptions can be said to moan. The wind may moan through an empty house, a sick dog may moan softly, and a tired person may moan when sitting down at the end of a hard day. In some contexts, it can also describe a sound of relief or pleasure, but the main idea is still the same: a long, low sound or a weary complaint.
Examples
- 1
Pain
He moaned in pain as the doctor moved his arm.
- 2
Sleep
She gave a quiet moan and turned over in bed.
- 3
Wind sound
The old house seemed to moan in the wind at night.
- 4
Complaining
My dad was already moaning about the traffic before we even left.
- Patternmoan about + problem
complain about it
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Reported complaint
She kept moaning that nobody appreciated her work.
- Patternmoan that ...
complain by saying ...
- 6
Informal complaint
We had a quick moan about the weather and then got on with the day.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- moannounverb
Forms
- moaning-ing formverbnoun
- moanspluralnounverb
- moanedpast tenseverbnoun