wail

play

verb \ ˈwāl \

Definition of wail

intransitive verb

1 :to express sorrow audibly :lament

2 :to make a sound suggestive of a mournful cry

3 :to express dissatisfaction plaintively :complain

transitive verb

1 archaic :bewail

2 :to say or express plaintively

wailed that her cake was ruined

—

wailer

play \ˈwā-lər\ noun

See wail defined for English-language learners

See wail defined for kids

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

So, conservatives aligned with such interests have been wailing that runaway inflation is just around the corner — and thus, the Fed should preemptively raise rates — for nearly a decade now.

— eric levitz, Daily Intelligencer, "Fed Chair Warns Trump to Not Roll Back Wall Street Regulations," 25 Aug. 2017
Speaking to news cameras on a lawn outside the court, Zeenat Ali Siddiqui, who was divorced by her husband through triple talaq in 2015, wailed with joy.

— vidhi doshi, Washington Post, "Muslim men in India could once divorce their wives by saying three words. Until now.," 22 Aug. 2017
On this mid-tempo rumbler, Lacey wails his insecurities in the starkest of terms.

— chris payne, Billboard, "Brand New's 'Science Fiction' Is a Dizzying, Legend-Making (and Potentially Career-Closing) Album," 18 Aug. 2017
Sure, their precious little face will get them a few brownie points, but the second that infant wakes up and starts wailing, all bets are off.

— stacey leasca, PEOPLE.com, "How to Avoid Sitting Next to a Baby on a Plane: 4 Travel Hacks from Frequent Flyers," 3 Aug. 2017
Engineer Paterson is especially proud of the muffler valves, which transition seamlessly between loud and soft modes without initiating booming or wailing sounds.

— don sherman, Car and Driver, "2018 Bentley Continental GT," 5 July 2017
The protagonist doesn't melodramatically rage and wail at the approaching end—

— steven strom, Ars Technica, "Persona 3’s ending made me appreciate all of life’s little endings," 24 June 2017
But his cello solos — which often explore the wailing upper range of his instrument — also embrace the microtonal quality in Arabic music.

— david patrick stearns, Philly.com, "At Painted Bride, a musical longing for the Damascus that was," 21 June 2017
The teakettle on Apollo’s stove is rattling and wailing.

— jennifer senior, New York Times, "In ‘The Changeling,’ the Dark Fears of Parents, Memorably Etched," 20 June 2017

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

wail Synonyms

Synonyms

beef, bellyache, bitch, bleat, carp, caterwaul, crab, croak, fuss, gripe, grizzle, grouch, grouse, growl, grumble, grump, holler, inveigh, keen, kick, kvetch, maunder [chiefly British], moan, murmur, mutter, nag, repine, scream, squawk, squeal, complain, whimper, whine, whinge [British], yammer, yawp (or yaup), yowl

Antonyms

crow, delight, rejoice

Related Words

object (to), protest, quarrel (with); cavil, quibble; fret, stew, worry; blubber, cry, sob; bemoan, bewail, deplore, lament

Near Antonyms

accept, bear, countenance, endure, take, tolerate; applaud, cheer, commend

wail

noun

Definition of wail

1 :the act or practice of wailing :loud lamentation

2 a :a usually prolonged cry or sound expressing grief or pain

b :a sound suggestive of wailing

the wail of an air-raid siren

c :a querulous expression of grievance :complaint

See wail defined for English-language learners

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

But the jarring, almost mournful wail of the train horn?

— jennie key, Cincinnati.com, "Rail at a crossroad: Glendale's quiet zone is on track," 29 Aug. 2017
Downtown residents acknowledge that the wail of sirens isn't new — especially in Streeterville, which is home not only to Northwestern Memorial Hospital but also Lurie Children's Hospital.

— william lee, chicagotribune.com, "Streeterville residents: Ambulance sirens too loud," 25 Aug. 2017
In Rubin’s mostly empty courtroom Thursday, her wails from the recording hung in the room.

— justin fenton, baltimoresun.com, "On morning of murder trial, family who witnessed shooting were killed," 17 Aug. 2017
Spectators from both sides cried throughout the hearing, including when audio of Chaires' wails filled the courtroom after a portion of a recorded police interview was played where investigators revealed to him that Castorena died in the shooting.

— everton bailey jr., OregonLive.com, "Beaverton shooter gets at least 35 years in prison for killing 1, injuring another," 28 July 2017
Punctuated by bluesy wails, handclaps, and jazzy instrumentation, this year's soul/rock lineup commands attention.

— birmingham magazine, AL.com, "Everything you need to know about Sloss Fest," 6 July 2017
Sitting on his brother’s lap, Adut Dut wails in pain.

— conor gaffey, MSNBC Newsweek, "The Devastating Human Cost of Famine in South Sudan," 4 July 2017
There were no prepared remarks or carefully recited poems at a Friday night (June 30) vigil on Chef Menteur Highway -- just the deep wails and sobs of raw grief at the loss of a 2-year-old girl described by family as a happy, energetic child.

— laura mcknight, NOLA.com, "2-year-old girl killed in crash following police chase mourned at vigil," 30 June 2017
George, for his own part, broke out into (admittedly adorable) wails.

— madeleine luckel, Vogue, "A Complete History of Prince George's Cutest, and Funniest, Facial Expressions," 27 June 2017

First Known Use of wail

15th century

wail Synonyms

Synonyms

groan, howl, keen, lamentation, moan, plaint, lament

Antonyms

exultation, rejoicing

Related Words

cry, sob, tears; agonizing, grieving, mourning, sorrowing, suffering, weeping; hand-wringing, regret; complaint, cri de coeur, outcry, protest; anguish, dolor, grief, heartache, heartbreak, sorrow, woe

Near Antonyms

cheering, laughing, smiling

WAIL Defined for English Language Learners

wail

play

verb

Definition 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

noun

Definition of wail for English Language Learners

: a long cry of sadness or pain
: a long, high sound

WAIL Defined for Kids

wail

play

verb \ ˈwāl \

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

wail

noun

Definition of wail for Students

:a long cry of grief or pain

Learn More about wail

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wailer

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wail

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