noun
Uncommon
howling
HOW-lihng
Howling (noun) means the act or sound of howling. Example: “The howling of the wind kept us awake all night.”
noun
1
The act or sound of howling.
"The howling of the wind kept us awake all night."
adj
1
That howls, or resembles a howl.
"A howling gale battered the coast."
2
(informal) Used to intensify something extreme, especially a mistake or success.
"That was a howling error on the referee's part."
"The film was a howling success."
How to use howling
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDescribes something that howls (like wind), or is used loosely to mean "extreme" or "glaring."
Common pairings
howling wind
howling gale
howling success
howling error
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Word forms
- Plural
- howlings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ of the wind kept us awake all night.
Etymology
From howl + the suffix -ing.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for howling
See all rhymes for howling →Frequently asked questions
What does “howling” mean?
The word “howling” means the act or sound of howling. In plain terms, describes something that howls (like wind), or is used loosely to mean "extreme" or "glaring.".
How do you pronounce “howling”?
“Howling” is pronounced HOW-lihng (/ˈhaʊlɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “howling” in a sentence?
Here is “howling” used in a sentence: “The howling of the wind kept us awake all night.”
What part of speech is “howling”?
Depending on how it is used, “howling” can be a noun and an adjective.
Is “howling” a common word?
“Howling” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “howling” have?
“Howling” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the act or sound of howling.