Word
wail
US/ˈweɪɫ/
UK/wˈeɪl/
Definitions
01to cry in grief
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to make a long, high-pitched cry because you are very sad or in pain.
v. to utter a prolonged, high-pitched cry of grief, sorrow, or pain. Intransitive in this sense.
Español:llorar
“The child began to wail when he realized he had lost his favorite toy.”
“The mourners began to wail as the procession passed, their voices rising in a collective expression of grief that echoed through the valley.”
02to play music with energy
C1 · Advanced Music Slang · Informal
v. to play a musical instrument, like a saxophone or guitar, with a lot of power and skill.
v. to perform music with exceptional energy, skill, and emotional intensity, particularly in jazz or rock contexts.
“The saxophonist really started to wail during his solo at the end of the song.”
“The lead guitarist began to wail, delivering a high-octane solo that electrified the audience and showcased his technical mastery of the blues scale.”
03a long cry
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a long, high sound made by a person crying or by a loud machine.
n. a prolonged, high-pitched sound, either human in origin or mechanical, such as a siren.
“The wail of the ambulance siren grew louder as it approached the intersection.”
“A thin wail of wind whistled through the cracks in the old cabin, making the cold night feel even more desolate.”
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Diana’s former husband was there because the young princes were there, walking for two miles behind their mother’s coffin while mourners wailed and shouted out at them, an outcome Spencer had vigorously argued against.” “The wails of women discovering the loss of their men could be heard as residents who had evacuated on Friday returned.” Etymology
c. 1300, Middle English weilen, waylen (“to sob, cry, wail”), from Old Norse væla (“to wail”), from væ, vei (“woe”), from Proto-Germanic wai (whence also Old English wā (“woe”) (English woe)), from Proto-Indo-European wáy. The verb is first attested in the intransitive sense; the transitive sense developed in mid-14ᵗʰ c.. The noun came from the verb.
From Old Norse val (“choice”). Compare Icelandic velja (“to choose”). More at wale.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/wail
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0