bawl

[ bawl ]

verb (used without object)

1. to cry or wail lustily.

   Synonyms: wail, bellow, roar, squall, yowl, howl

verb (used with object)

1. to utter or proclaim by outcry; shout out:

   to bawl one's dissatisfaction;

   bawling his senseless ditties to the audience.

2. to offer for sale by shouting, as a hawker:

   a peddler bawling his wares.

noun

1. a loud shout; outcry.
2. a period or spell of loud crying or weeping.
3. Chiefly Midland and Western U.S. the noise made by a calf.

verb phrase

1. Informal. to scold vociferously; reprimand or scold vigorously:

   Your father will bawl you out when he sees this mess.

bawl

/ bɔːl /

verb

1. intr to utter long loud cries, as from pain or frustration; wail
2. to shout loudly, as in anger

noun

1. a loud shout or cry

Derived Forms

• ˈbawler, noun
• ˈbawling, noun

Other Words From

• bawl·er noun
• out·bawl verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of bawl¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Medieval Latin baulāre “to bark,” from Germanic; compare Old Norse baula “to low,” baula “cow,” perhaps a conflation of belja ( bell ² ) with an unrecorded old root bhu-

Word History and Origins

Origin of bawl¹

C15: probably from Icelandic baula to low; related to Medieval Latin baulāre to bark, Swedish böla to low; all of imitative origin

Example Sentences

Yet when the whistle sounded on the U.S. women’s soccer team’s 1-0 win over Brazil in last Saturday’s gold-medal game at the Paris Olympics, Swanson rushed to Naeher, wrapped both arms around her neck and began to bawl.

From Los Angeles Times

The moment that mournful violins sound out their familiar melody, I bawl.

From Los Angeles Times

There were a lot of times when everyone was asleep, everybody was full and fed, and I would just bawl crying.

From Los Angeles Times

The meeting was called after Thursday’s bawl on Copacabana that saw nine arrested across the city’s affluent southern zone, police said.

From Washington Times

“Every time that little guy dies,” he sniffed, “I want to bawl like a baby.”

From Literature

Related Words

• sob