WordGarden.iowail
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /wˈeɪl/
US
- /ˈweɪl/
Meanings
Verb
to cry out in a long mournful way from grief, pain, or distress
to express grief, complaint, or protest in a loud mournful way
Noun
a long mournful cry of grief, pain, or distress
a long high-pitched mournful sound, such as from a siren or the wind
Beyond the definition
A wail is not just any cry; it is long, loud, and full of grief, pain, or fear. Think of the sound a lost child might make, or a sorrowful cry heard in a dark old house. It carries a strong sense of suffering. In stories, people wail over lost loved ones or terrible news. A person might wail after a sudden loss, and sometimes the wind itself seems to wail as it moves through the trees.
To wail is to cry out with intense emotion—usually grief, pain, or despair. It's more than just shedding tears; a wail is a prolonged, often high-pitched sound that expresses deep anguish. Imagine the heartbroken cries of someone who has lost everything, or the mournful sounds echoing from a battlefield. That is the essence of a wail.
Historically, wailing was a central part of mourning rituals in many cultures. Professional mourners were often hired to wail at funerals, vocalizing grief on behalf of the family and the community. While less common in modern formal settings, the act still represents a raw, visceral expression of loss.
Beyond human emotion, you will often hear this word used for mechanical sounds, such as sirens wailing as an ambulance rushes to an emergency. It can also be used figuratively to describe a loud public outcry: "The crowd wailed after the referee's controversial call."
A wail is a window into profound suffering. It speaks of pain and the desperate need for comfort or relief. When you hear a wail, you are hearing the weight of someone's deepest sorrows.
Examples
- 1
Child distress
The little boy began to wail when he couldn't find his mother.
- 2
Sirens
Sirens wailed outside the hotel for most of the night.
- 3
Grief
She wailed with grief when she heard the news.
- 4
Complaining
He's still wailing about how unfair the new schedule is.
- Patternwail about + problem
complain about it in a loud, emotional, or exaggerated way
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Ambulance sound
We could hear the wail of an ambulance in the distance.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- wailnounverb
Forms
- wailing-ing formverbnoun
- wailspluralnounverb
- wailedpast tenseverbnoun