howling

1 of 2

adjective

howl·​ing ˈhau̇-liŋ 

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

howling

2 of 2

present participle of howl

Examples of howling in a Sentence

Adjective

The movie was a howling success.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Either that, or the Daily Mail editors had a howling good time with publication dates. — Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026

In the elk- and deer-rich areas of northern Yellowstone National Park, ravens are often among the first scavengers to arrive on the scene, swooping down to feast on scraps left behind by the howling canines. — Nidhi Sharma, Popular Science, 12 Mar. 2026

The City of Aurora, Illinois, is touting a howling success. — Adam Harrington, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026

With relentless howling wind making up much of the soundtrack, The Turin Horse was a chilling, enigmatic stunner that played like a metaphor for the apocalypse. — Tim Grierson, Rolling Stone, 6 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for howling

• cowling
• fouling
• fowling
• prowling
• scowling
• towelling
• antifouling