groaned; groaning; groans
1
: to utter a deep moan indicative of pain, grief, or annoyance
groaned when she saw the bill
2
: to make a harsh sound (as of creaking) under sudden or prolonged strain
The chair groaned under his weight.
: to utter or express with groaning
groaned their despair
groan
noun
Examples of groan in a Sentence
The wounded man groaned in pain.
She groaned when she saw the bill.
“Oh, no,” she groaned, “I'm going to have to start all over.”
She groaned that she would have to start all over.
Merchants are groaning over slow holiday sales.
He's always moaning and groaning about his salary.
The chair groaned under his weight.
Recent Examples on the Web
Feel free to laugh or groan or both.
—
U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Texas State pitcher Madison Azua simultaneously groaned and laughed while recounting the near-torturous exercises the program put her and teammates through.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 3 Feb. 2026
There were jeers when Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario took too long on the ball, groans whenever anyone turned backwards, and boos when Antoine Semenyo put City 2-0 up.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
The branches of that tree hanging over your home are groaning and creaking, tossed against each other like so many toothpicks.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for groan
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U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026
Texas State pitcher Madison Azua simultaneously groaned and laughed while recounting the near-torturous exercises the program put her and teammates through.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 3 Feb. 2026
There were jeers when Spurs goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario took too long on the ball, groans whenever anyone turned backwards, and boos when Antoine Semenyo put City 2-0 up.
—Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 2 Feb. 2026
The branches of that tree hanging over your home are groaning and creaking, tossed against each other like so many toothpicks.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for groan
Cite this Entry
“Groan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/groan. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
groan
verb1
: to utter a deep moan of pain, grief, or irritation
2
: to make a harsh sound under strain
the chair groaned under my weight
groan
noun
groaner
noun
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