# wailing

/ˈweɪɫɪŋ/ (US) · /wˈeɪlɪŋ/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wailing
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

a long, high cry of pain, grief, or anger. It is a sound people make when they are very sad or hurt.

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

- Often used with the definite article 'the' or as a gerund-like noun describing a continuous sound.

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