verb
wail
wayl
Wail (verb) means to cry out loudly in grief, pain, or sorrow. Example: “She wailed uncontrollably at the funeral.”
verb
1
To cry out loudly in grief, pain, or sorrow.
"She wailed uncontrollably at the funeral."
"The baby wailed all through the night."
noun
1
A long, high-pitched cry of grief or distress.
"A wail of anguish echoed through the hospital corridor."
How to use wail
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo cry loudly and mournfully, or the sound of that cry.
Common pairings
wail in grief
siren wail
let out a wail
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Word forms
- Plural
- wails
- Third person singular
- wails
- Past tense
- wailed
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She _____ uncontrollably at the funeral.
Etymology
From Old Norse "væla" (to wail), itself from a word meaning "woe" — tracing back to a very old Indo-European exclamation of grief.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for wail
See all rhymes for wail →Frequently asked questions
What does “wail” mean?
The word “wail” means to cry out loudly in grief, pain, or sorrow. In plain terms, to cry loudly and mournfully, or the sound of that cry.
How do you pronounce “wail”?
“Wail” is pronounced wayl (/weɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “wail” in a sentence?
Here is “wail” used in a sentence: “She wailed uncontrollably at the funeral.”
What part of speech is “wail”?
Depending on how it is used, “wail” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “wail” come from?
The word “wail” comes from Old Norse. From Old Norse "væla" (to wail), itself from a word meaning "woe" — tracing back to a very old Indo-European exclamation of grief.
How many meanings does “wail” have?
“Wail” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to cry out loudly in grief, pain, or sorrow.
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