Definition of wail
Explore Merriam-Webster
Examples of wail in a Sentence
The child started wailing after she stumbled and fell.
A saxophone wailed in the background.
“No! I don't want to go!” he wailed.
She wailed that the vacation was ruined.
Recent Examples of wail from the Web
-
Engineer Paterson is especially proud of the muffler valves, which transition seamlessly between loud and soft modes without initiating booming or wailing sounds.
-
But his cello solos — which often explore the wailing upper range of his instrument — also embrace the microtonal quality in Arabic music.
-
The teakettle on Apollo’s stove is rattling and wailing.
-
There were sounds of pounding on locked doors and babies wailing.
-
Meanwhile on the North stage, the Yachty-coiffed Thundercat wailed away on a six-string bass with various phasing effects, trying to keep pace with his fidget spinner of a drummer.
-
That paper-crunching, bead-wearing, pitifully wailing goat that seemed to inspire some kind of resolution in Nora might also be the demon that chose her as his earthbound vessel, if crazy British scientists are to be believed.
-
In funerals for the victims held over the weekend in Minya, women relatives passed out, while others wailed in grief.
-
More often, the two homicide prosecutors would wail away at the instruments by themselves.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wail.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of wail
Middle English weilen, waylen, perhaps modification (influenced by Middle English weilawei wellaway) of Old Norse væla, vāla to wail; akin to Old Norse vei woe — more at woe
wail
Definition of wail
Examples of wail in a Sentence
the wail of a siren
a prolonged wail arose from every corner of the city as the victims of the earthquake were unearthed from the rubble
Recent Examples of wail from the Web
-
George, for his own part, broke out into (admittedly adorable) wails.
-
The lean arrangements accent Stapleton’s scuffed wail, a deeply soulful instrument that’s more Memphis than Nashville.
-
Hearing Sam Smith wail in his signature falsetto is refreshing and fun!
-
The lyrics express hurt, defiance and anger, much of which Chambers expressed in a siren wail that recalled the soulful fervor of singers like Bettye LaVette or Janis Joplin.
-
A Bangladeshi woman wails near the bodies of three of her family members killed in a landslide in Bandarban, Bangladesh, Tuesday, June 13, 2017.
-
The near constant wail of sirens provided a reminder that authorities were diligently working to find answers behind the night's events.
-
Seeing this guy wail on his kit atop that hill always brought a smile to my face.
-
In one case, the most heartbreaking, a woman lies motionless on the floor of the toy aisle in a grocery store while a toddler tugs at her arm and wails inconsolably.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wail.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of wail
15th century
WAIL Defined for English Language Learners
wail
playDefinition of wail for English Language Learners
-
: to make a loud, long cry of sadness or pain
-
: to make a long, high sound
-
: to complain in a loud voice
wail
Definition of wail for English Language Learners
-
: a long cry of sadness or pain
-
: a long, high sound
WAIL Defined for Kids
Definition of wail for Students
wailed
;wailing
1 : to make a long, loud cry of pain or grief
2 : to complain with a loud voice
Learn More about wail
-
See words that rhyme with wail Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for wail Spanish Central: Translation of wail Nglish: Translation of wail for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of wail for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up wail? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!