Wail
verb
To cry loudly due to sadness or pain.
When her dog died, the girl started to wail with grief.
Often appears as...
- wail in sorrow
- wail in agony
verb
To make a high, long sound.
Birds often wail to communicate with each other.
Often appears as...
- wail of a siren
- wail in the wind
noun
A long, loud cry of pain, sorrow, or anger.
Their joyful laughter turned into wails when they heard the bad news.
Often appears as...
- wail of grief
- lamenting wail
verb
To cry loudly due to sadness or pain.
When her dog died, the girl started to wail with grief.
Often appears as...
- wail in sorrow
- wail in agony
verb
To make a high, long sound.
Birds often wail to communicate with each other.
Often appears as...
- wail of a siren
- wail in the wind
noun
A long, loud cry of pain, sorrow, or anger.
Their joyful laughter turned into wails when they heard the bad news.
Often appears as...
- wail of grief
- lamenting wail
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Intense Emotion
Use 'wail' for expressing strong emotions, usually in negative situations.
He wailed in frustration after failing the exam.
Pro Tip 2/3Loudness
'Wail' implies a loud and uncontrollable crying, more intense than a whimper.
The baby wailed until her parents comforted her.
Pro Tip 3/3Public Display
Wailing often happens in public or shared grief as a collective expression of sorrow.
The community wailed together at the memorial service.
Pro Tip 1/3Intense Emotion
Use 'wail' for expressing strong emotions, usually in negative situations.
He wailed in frustration after failing the exam.
Pro Tip 2/3Loudness
'Wail' implies a loud and uncontrollable crying, more intense than a whimper.
The baby wailed until her parents comforted her.
Pro Tip 3/3Public Display
Wailing often happens in public or shared grief as a collective expression of sorrow.
The community wailed together at the memorial service.
Pro Tip 1/3Intense Emotion
Use 'wail' for expressing strong emotions, usually in negative situations.
He wailed in frustration after failing the exam.
Pro Tip 2/3Loudness
'Wail' implies a loud and uncontrollable crying, more intense than a whimper.
The baby wailed until her parents comforted her.
Pro Tip 3/3Public Display
Wailing often happens in public or shared grief as a collective expression of sorrow.
The community wailed together at the memorial service.
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Video examples
The happy secret to...
I saw my sister's faces wail a pain and suffering and surprise threatening to erupt from her mouth and threatening to wake my parents from the long winters nap for which they had settled so I did the only thing my little frantic seven-year-old brain could think to do to avert this tragedy if you have children you've seen this hundreds of times before I said Amy Amy wait don't
Video examples
The happy secret to...
this wail of pain and suffering and surprise threatening to erupt from her mouth and wake my parents from the long winter's nap for which they had settled. So I did the only thing my frantic seven year-old brain could think to do to avert this tragedy. And if you have children, you've seen this hundreds of times. I said, "Amy, wait. Don't cry. Did you see how you landed?
Video examples
What kids can teach...
I tripped over my own two feet. I blacked out and woke up with a big cut on my foot from broken pieces of glass, eyes swollen from crying and a voice so hoarse that I'd most likely been wailing. I don't have much recollection of what actually happened, but I remember feeling frustrated, sad and afraid.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 226 PIPE...
heart-wrenching sound of a bull beast in distress right next to the road in the heart of North clan territory on closer inspection we saw a North clan head pop up over the long grass the mournful wails of the world beast continued and attracted a few more clan members
Video examples
The Egyptian myth of...
As he crawled under the door, he saw the owner’s young son sleeping peacefully and gave him a mighty sting. Isis and her hostess were soon awakened by loud wailing. As they peered out of the doorway of the cottage, they saw a mother running through the street,
Video examples
Dying Wildebeest Baby PIPE...
one of the most heart-wrenching scenes you'd ever imagine what we witness was an extremely strong male calf probably about seven or eight months old struggling for its life with this massive croc attached to its back side so he's wailing calling you know like
Video examples
Jaguar Cubs Fight for...
over the core cast Kira is trying to approach me but see she's respect and she's giving him the space jagged of solitary hunters and defeat solitary Maya's wailing Kira is waiting for savage to finish his turn on it usually
Video examples
Death Along the Ganges...
these is films we've seen two or three passed by and the people following they seem to be joyously chanting rather than sadly wailing why is that facilitating the soul journey further and in a way
Video examples
Gary Slutkin: Let's...
I'd seen a lot of death, in particular epidemic death, and epidemic death has a different feel to it. It's full of panic and fear, and I'd heard the women wailing and crying in the desert.
Video examples
Sometimes, what can you...
we had a wailing wall in our living room yeah I know okay listen to this people listen to this my father was an abusive drunk my sister had cerebral palsy she couldn't walk or talk mom's
Video examples
The happy secret to...
I saw my sister's faces wail a pain and suffering and surprise threatening to erupt from her mouth and threatening to wake my parents from the long winters nap for which they had settled so I did the only thing my little frantic seven-year-old brain could think to do to avert this tragedy if you have children you've seen this hundreds of times before I said Amy Amy wait don't
Video examples
The happy secret to...
this wail of pain and suffering and surprise threatening to erupt from her mouth and wake my parents from the long winter's nap for which they had settled. So I did the only thing my frantic seven year-old brain could think to do to avert this tragedy. And if you have children, you've seen this hundreds of times. I said, "Amy, wait. Don't cry. Did you see how you landed?
Video examples
What kids can teach...
I tripped over my own two feet. I blacked out and woke up with a big cut on my foot from broken pieces of glass, eyes swollen from crying and a voice so hoarse that I'd most likely been wailing. I don't have much recollection of what actually happened, but I remember feeling frustrated, sad and afraid.
Video examples
Safari Live - Day 226 PIPE...
heart-wrenching sound of a bull beast in distress right next to the road in the heart of North clan territory on closer inspection we saw a North clan head pop up over the long grass the mournful wails of the world beast continued and attracted a few more clan members
Video examples
The Egyptian myth of...
As he crawled under the door, he saw the owner’s young son sleeping peacefully and gave him a mighty sting. Isis and her hostess were soon awakened by loud wailing. As they peered out of the doorway of the cottage, they saw a mother running through the street,
Video examples
Dying Wildebeest Baby PIPE...
one of the most heart-wrenching scenes you'd ever imagine what we witness was an extremely strong male calf probably about seven or eight months old struggling for its life with this massive croc attached to its back side so he's wailing calling you know like
Video examples
Jaguar Cubs Fight for...
over the core cast Kira is trying to approach me but see she's respect and she's giving him the space jagged of solitary hunters and defeat solitary Maya's wailing Kira is waiting for savage to finish his turn on it usually
Video examples
Death Along the Ganges...
these is films we've seen two or three passed by and the people following they seem to be joyously chanting rather than sadly wailing why is that facilitating the soul journey further and in a way
Video examples
Gary Slutkin: Let's...
I'd seen a lot of death, in particular epidemic death, and epidemic death has a different feel to it. It's full of panic and fear, and I'd heard the women wailing and crying in the desert.
Video examples
Sometimes, what can you...
we had a wailing wall in our living room yeah I know okay listen to this people listen to this my father was an abusive drunk my sister had cerebral palsy she couldn't walk or talk mom's
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Kelly Rowland
American Musician
I actually started singing in church when I was about five years old. I remember looking at the choirs and just hearing all of those great big beautiful voices. And there was this one woman who could just wail. And I remember trying to sing like her when I was like going home.
Quote examples
Buddy Rich
American Musician
I think the drummer should sit back there and play some drums, and never mind about the tunes. Just get up there and wail behind whoever is sitting up there playing the solo. And this is what is lacking, definitely lacking in music today.
Quote examples
Kevin Frazier
American Journalist
I was in the tent when Bobbi Kristina's body was lowered into the ground. Watching her grandmother and her aunt, watching these women not cry but wail - you can't divorce your feelings from some of this stuff.
Quote examples
Henry Rollins
American Musician
I get angry about stuff, I get very emotionally intense about stuff and that's how I get it out - with books, with the band, on my own onstage, but it's always kind of a wail.
Quote examples
Cass Sunstein
American Lawyer
Having a constant productive anxiety doesn't mean that people are miserable and wailing but that people know they will be held accountable if things do not go right.
Quote examples
Jessica St. Clair
American Actress
My parents sold my childhood home, and I literally was 35 years old, but I cried for, like, two and a half weeks. Like, openly wailed.
Quote examples
Meghan O'Rourke
American Poet
Many Americans don't mourn in public anymore - we don't wear black, we don't beat our chests and wail.
Quote examples
Dimebag Darrell
American Musician
As far as I'm concerned, it's no good being able to wail out smokin' leads if your rhythm chops hugg!
Quote examples
Tim O'Brien
American Author
Laughter does not deny pain. Laughter - like a wail - acknowledges and replies to pain.
Quote examples
Minna Antrim
American Writer
The drama of life begins with a wail and ends with a sigh.
Quote examples
Kelly Rowland
American Musician
I actually started singing in church when I was about five years old. I remember looking at the choirs and just hearing all of those great big beautiful voices. And there was this one woman who could just wail. And I remember trying to sing like her when I was like going home.
Quote examples
Buddy Rich
American Musician
I think the drummer should sit back there and play some drums, and never mind about the tunes. Just get up there and wail behind whoever is sitting up there playing the solo. And this is what is lacking, definitely lacking in music today.
Quote examples
Kevin Frazier
American Journalist
I was in the tent when Bobbi Kristina's body was lowered into the ground. Watching her grandmother and her aunt, watching these women not cry but wail - you can't divorce your feelings from some of this stuff.
Quote examples
Henry Rollins
American Musician
I get angry about stuff, I get very emotionally intense about stuff and that's how I get it out - with books, with the band, on my own onstage, but it's always kind of a wail.
Quote examples
Cass Sunstein
American Lawyer
Having a constant productive anxiety doesn't mean that people are miserable and wailing but that people know they will be held accountable if things do not go right.
Quote examples
Jessica St. Clair
American Actress
My parents sold my childhood home, and I literally was 35 years old, but I cried for, like, two and a half weeks. Like, openly wailed.
Quote examples
Meghan O'Rourke
American Poet
Many Americans don't mourn in public anymore - we don't wear black, we don't beat our chests and wail.
Quote examples
Dimebag Darrell
American Musician
As far as I'm concerned, it's no good being able to wail out smokin' leads if your rhythm chops hugg!
Quote examples
Tim O'Brien
American Author
Laughter does not deny pain. Laughter - like a wail - acknowledges and replies to pain.
Quote examples
Minna Antrim
American Writer
The drama of life begins with a wail and ends with a sigh.
Example 1 of 10
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