Definition of 'wail'

Word Frequency

wail

(weɪl )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense wails , present participle wailing , past tense, past participle wailed

1. verb

If someone wails, they make long, loud, high-pitched cries which express sorrow or pain.

The women began to wail in mourning. [VERB]

...a mother wailing for her lost child. [VERB + for]

Wail is also a noun.

Wails of grief were heard as visitors filed past the site of the disaster. [+ of]

wailing uncountable noun

Mace still remembers the pitiful wailing of the trapped and the wounded.

2. verb

If you wail something, you say it in a loud, high-pitched voice that shows that you are unhappy or in pain.

'Now look what you've done!' Shirley wailed. [VERB with quote]

Primrose, stupefied by tiredness, began to wail that she was hungry. [VERB that]

[Also V + about]

Synonyms: scream, cry, yell, howl More Synonyms of wail

3. verb

If something such as a siren or an alarm wails, it makes a long, loud, high-pitched sound.

Police cars, their sirens wailing, accompanied the lorries. [VERB]

The wind wailed outside the closed windows. [VERB]

Synonyms: howl, scream, roar, cry More Synonyms of wail

Wail is also a noun.

The wail of the bagpipes could be heard in the distance. [+ of]

wailing uncountable noun

Our artillery opened up and we heard a fearful wailing and screeching.

More Synonyms of wail

Video: pronunciation of
wail

wail in British English

(weɪl )

verb

1. (intransitive)

to utter a prolonged high-pitched cry, as of grief or misery

2. (intransitive)

to make a sound resembling such a cry

the wind wailed in the trees

3. (transitive)

to lament, esp with mournful sounds

noun

a prolonged high-pitched mournful cry or sound

Derived forms

wailer (ˈwailer)

noun

wailful (ˈwailful)

adjective

wailfully (ˈwailfully)

adverb

Word origin

C14: of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse vǣla to wail, Old English wā woe

Word Frequency

wail in American English

(weɪl )

verb intransitive

to express grief or pain by long, loud cries

to make a plaintive, sad, crying sound

the wind wailing in the trees

3. Jazz; Slang

to play in an intense or inspired manner

verb transitive Archaic

to lament; mourn

to wail someone's death

to cry out in mourning or lamentation

noun

a long, pitiful cry of grief and pain

a sound like this

the act of wailing

SIMILAR WORDS: cry

Derived forms

wailer (ˈwailer)

noun

Word origin

ME wailen < ON væla, to lament < væ, woe

Example sentences including
wail

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We heard wailing and screaming until sunrise.She was wailing in grief then growling in rage. Women are heard wailing in the background.The whole settlement echoed to the mournful wailing until the sound died away quite suddenly.One day she came home from school to hear agonised wailing.It is my second fast day this week and you can probably hear my stomach wailing. Hearing her wailing down the phone made us feel guilty.And still we hear the wails of pain.They began to weep and wail with such loud grief that once again the film had to be stopped.The opening moments were an onslaught of wailing, rumbling sound that pinned us to our seats.