to wail
- verb
- /weɪl/
- "Oh, Mommy, don't talk business," Blake wailed as they got into the car.
- wailing mothers
It was no wonder that many children screamed and wailed in our kitchen.
- It was no wonder that many children screamed and wailed in our kitchen.
- I did not wail because I did not want to draw attention to myself, at least not so much attention that an attendant would rush over.
- And I just started like embarrassingly, just like wail in front of her.
- And I just start wailing and crying and they stop tape.
- Who would buy a minute's mirth to wail a week or sell eternity for a toy, for one sweet grape?
Examples
-
I have knelt on that kitchen floor myself, wailing alongside that child.
Academic text (2007) -
"I didn't do it," Mira wailed as her mother carried her to the bathroom.
Academic text (2010) -
You hear this kid start to start to wail or this baby and I put out, you know, we need experts.
-
I mean, you can wail and moan and say, you know something.
-
And I just started like embarrassingly, just like wail in front of her.
-
And we were stuck for like an hour and you kept wailing in the car -because you had to--
-
And I just start wailing and crying and they stop tape.
-
"You must pack everything up at once!" she wailed, and Edwina only shook her head.
Fiction book (1991) -
"Jazz burst into tears, wailing inconsolably, her fists beating on the top of the piano."
Fiction book (1990) -
As the thunderstorm rolled in, the children started to wail in fear.
Synonyms
To make a loud call to show feeling or get attention
A low unhappy sound showing pain, discomfort or dislike
To make a low, long sound to show pain, discomfort, or displeasure
Shout loudly to show a strong feeling, for example when surprised or hurt
To show or say that you feel sad about something
To give a long loud cry because of pain, grief, or anger
Cry or shout loudly and without control
To cry with short, noisy breaths
To make a loud, sad cry for someone who has died
To make a loud, long cry that sounds like it hurts
To show deep sadness and regret about something
To make a loud high sound like a baby or bird
To make long loud shaky cries to show strong feeling
To make long, loud, harsh cries repeatedly
To let out a loud cry because of pain, surprise, or alarm
To make a high, loud, wailing sound like bagpipes
To make a long, high, sad noise like crying
To cry loudly because you feel upset or hurt
Antonyms
Compounds
How Loud
Surface Forms
Etymology
Wail is an old word that copies the long, sad sound people make when they cry, so the sound is in the word itself. So, to wail is to 'make a long, loud, or mournful cry of pain, sorrow, or grief'.