howling

[ hou-ling ]

adjective

1. producing or uttering a howling noise:

   a howling mob.

2. desolate, dismal, or dreary:

   a howling wilderness.

3. Informal. very great; tremendous:

   a howling success.

howling

/ ˈhaʊlɪŋ /

adjective

1. informal.
   prenominal (intensifier)

   a howling error

   a howling success

Derived Forms

• ˈhowlingly, adverb

Other Words From

• howling·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of howling¹

1250–1300; Middle English houlinge (gerund); howl, -ing ²

Example Sentences

She and her cat, Stella, made it through the howling wind and torrential rain fine.

From Los Angeles Times

Through a series of voice notes and calls, Perkins took BBC News through the storm as it barrelled through her community, bringing howling winds and saturating the area with rain.

From BBC

Some of the works were removed shortly after appearing, while one, a howling wolf sprayed on a satellite dish in Peckham, south-east London, was seemingly stolen.

From BBC

Still burdened with about 1,000 gallons of fire retardant, he shoved the throttles forward to squeeze more power from the howling engines and pulled back on the controls to start an agonizingly slow climb.

From Los Angeles Times

The howling wolf sprayed on a satellite dish in Peckham, south-east London, was seemingly taken by thieves.

From BBC

Related Words

• amusement
• chuckle
• giggle
• glee
• guffaw
• hilarity
• laugh
• mirth
• roar
• shout
• shriek
• snicker