howling

adjective

howl·​ing ˈhau̇-liŋ How to pronounce howling (audio)
1
: producing or marked by a sound resembling a howl
a howling storm
2
: desolate, wild
a howling wilderness
3
: very great : pronounced
a howling success
howlingly adverb

Examples of howling in a Sentence

The movie was a howling success.
Recent Examples on the Web Sender shifts between stories of love — between lovers, friends, family, ghosts — and the great looming shadow of the Holocaust, making a deep and howling portrait of longing and loneliness. Nina McLaughlin, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Mar. 2023 Smash the right pedal, and Tecnica lurches forward in a howling, long-winded climb through each of the 7 gears. Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 22 July 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'howling.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of howling was in 1599

Dictionary Entries Near howling

Cite this Entry

“Howling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/howling. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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