moan

[ mohn ]

noun

1. 1. a prolonged, low sound uttered from physical or mental suffering.
   2. a prolonged, low sound uttered from any other strong physical or mental sensation, especially pleasure.
2. any prolonged, low sound:

   The alarming moan of the engines suggested they'd break down soon.

3. complaint or lamentation:

   Despite last year's moan about how much effort Christmas is, I'm feeling up to it this year.

verb (used without object)

1. 1. to make a prolonged, low sound from physical or mental suffering.
   2. to make a prolonged, low sound from any other strong physical or mental sensation, especially pleasure.

   Synonyms: mourn, grieve

2. (of inanimate objects) to make a prolonged, low sound:

   The wind moaned through the trees.

3. to complain:

   I may moan about the weather here, but at least it doesn't get hot.

verb (used with object)

1. to utter (something) inarticulately or pitifully:

   He moaned his response.

2. to lament or express grief over; bemoan:

   It does no good to moan your position in life instead of taking action.

   Synonyms: deplore, mourn

moan

/ məʊn /

noun

1. a low prolonged mournful sound expressive of suffering or pleading
2. any similar mournful sound, esp that made by the wind
3. a grumble or complaint

verb

1. to utter (words) in a low mournful manner
2. intr to make a sound like a moan
3. usually intr to grumble or complain (esp in the phrase moan and groan )

Derived Forms

• ˈmoaning, nounadjective
• ˈmoanful, adjective
• ˈmoaner, noun
• ˈmoaningly, adverb

Other Words From

• moan·ful adjective
• moan·ful·ly adverb
• moan·ing·ly adverb
• un·moaned adjective
• un·moan·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of moan¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English mone, man(e) (noun), Old English mān, unrecorded but inferred from its derivative mǣnan “to mourn”

Word History and Origins

Origin of moan¹

C13: related to Old English mǣnan to grieve over

Synonym Study

See groan.

Example Sentences

And in typical Fernandes style, his post-match interview wasn't wasted either, with a direct message for his team-mate and his critics: "Garnacho didn't celebrate because he thinks he has lost the faith of some fans. I told him people will always moan but lots of people like you. I told him to celebrate."

From BBC

In future when people moan about all the creative players not being on the pitch together, he can say, "Tried that, 0-0 against Greece. Now what's your point?"

From BBC

"When the emotion has got to come out, or you've got to have a big cry or a moan, you let out a noise, tsssssh, like a kettle letting off steam, and you're like, 'Oh, I feel so much better'."

From BBC

"But there were other people in the trailer also moaning like Miriam Margolyes. You’re not alone when you moan."

From BBC

Leather concurs: "It's how we respond to a crisis, there’s got to be a lot of gallows humour there – if we don’t have that and it’s cod-American, it’s not going to work. It has to be the British way. And we love to moan about trains!"

From BBC

Related Words

• gripe
• sigh
• sob
• wail
• whine