Word
wailing
Phoneticswail·ing
US/ˈweɪɫɪŋ/
UK/wˈeɪlɪŋ/
Definition
n. a long, high cry of pain, grief, or anger. It is a sound people make when they are very sad or hurt.
n. a prolonged, high-pitched vocalisation of grief, pain, or distress. Often associated with mourning or intense physical suffering.
Examples
“The wailing of the wind kept me awake all night.”
“The distant wailing of an ambulance siren grew louder as it approached the busy intersection.”
“The air was filled with the mournful wailing of the bereaved, a sound that echoed through the narrow streets of the village long after the procession had passed.”
Examples
simple
“The wailing of the wind kept me awake all night.”
contextual
“The distant wailing of an ambulance siren grew louder as it approached the busy intersection.”
complex
“The air was filled with the mournful wailing of the bereaved, a sound that echoed through the narrow streets of the village long after the procession had passed.”
Usage
Often used with the definite article 'the' or as a gerund-like noun describing a continuous sound.
Real-World Examples
“Liverpool travel to Ipswich later on Friday with fans wailing at a lack of cover at full-back.” Etymology
From wail + -ing.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/wailing