wail

[ weyl ]

verb (used without object)

1. to utter a prolonged, inarticulate, mournful cry, usually high-pitched or clear-sounding, as in grief or suffering:

   to wail with pain.

2. to make mournful sounds, as music or the wind.
3. to lament or mourn bitterly.
4. Jazz. to perform exceptionally well.
5. Slang. to express emotion musically or verbally in an exciting, satisfying way.

verb (used with object)

1. to express deep sorrow for; mourn; lament; bewail:

   to wail the dead;

   to wail one's fate.

2. to express in wailing; cry or say in lamentation:

   to wail one's grief.

noun

1. the act of wailing.
2. a wailing cry, as of grief, pain, or despair.
3. any similar mournful sound:

   the wail of an old tune.

wail

/ weɪl /

verb

1. intr to utter a prolonged high-pitched cry, as of grief or misery
2. intr to make a sound resembling such a cry

   the wind wailed in the trees

3. tr to lament, esp with mournful sounds

noun

1. a prolonged high-pitched mournful cry or sound

Derived Forms

• ˈwailful, adjective
• ˈwailfully, adverb
• ˈwailer, noun

Other Words From

• wail·er noun
• un·wailed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wail¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English weile (verb and noun), perhaps derivative of Old English weilāwei wellaway ( def ); compare Old English wǣlan “to torment,” Old Norse wǣla “to wail”

Word History and Origins

Origin of wail¹

C14: of Scandinavian origin; related to Old Norse vǣla to wail, Old English wā woe

Example Sentences

When he heard the news he says he “wailed like a banshee for 20 minutes”.

From BBC

In Kyiv, there has been only one night since Sept. 1 without the wail of air-raid alerts sounding from smartphone apps.

From Los Angeles Times

Shortly afterwards, a few floors down in the emergency room, the wail of a siren warns of casualties arriving – from that air strike.

From BBC

Musk's fans may wail that it's "just a joke," but Clinton is right.

From Salon

On “In the Mirror,” Lane wails and reflects on being the monster in a relationship gone south.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fuss
• grieve
• howl
• moan
• mourn
• sob
• weep
• whimper