yowl

American  

[youl] / yaʊl /

verb (used without object)

1. to utter a long, distressful or dismal cry, as an animal or a person; howl.

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noun

1. a yowling cry; a howl.

yowl British  

/ jaʊl /

verb

1. to express with or produce a loud mournful wail or cry; howl

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noun

1. a loud mournful cry; wail or howl

Other Word Forms

• yowler noun

Etymology

Origin of yowl

1175–1225; Middle English yuhele, yule, youle, apparently from a cry of pain or distress yuhele; compare Old English geoh- (in geohthu grief )

Explanation

A yowl is a loud cry or howl, especially one that an animal makes. If you accidentally step on your cat's tail, you'll probably hear her yowl. Poor kitty. Use this imitative word as a noun or a verb, any time you're describing a wild cry of distress. Your new puppy may yowl all night long the first couple of times you make him sleep in a crate at the foot of your bed — and if his yowling goes on too long, you may find yourself starting to yowl along with him.

Example Sentences

But they had connected him to a current of fury, and the urge to yowl for justice or revenge flooded his throat.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 11, 2025

The cathartic yowl at the start of his debut solo single, “Crazy Train,” was telling: “All aboooooardd!”

From Salon • Jul. 26, 2025

“Noid” was dense and menacing, Tyler’s flow somewhere between a growl and a yowl; “Darling, I” was light and whimsical but almost painfully yearning too.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 17, 2024

At 61, Rose's vocals aren't what they once were, but he can still pull off a wolverine yowl when he warms up - and his snarling delivery remains convincingly menacing.

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2023

But Harry was in a party mood, so he cleared his throat and began: “When I’m calling youuuuuuuu Oooo-oooo-oooo Oooo-oooo-oooo—” Harry had a delightful yowl that went very well with the lyrics of the song.

From "The Cricket in Times Square" by George Selden