WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
wail /weɪl/USA pronunciation
v.
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to express sorrow with a long, loud cry: [no object]The child wailed unhappily.[~ + object]She wailed a warning.[used with quotations]"I want to go home!'' she wailed.
- to make sounds resembling a sorrowful cry:[no object]The wind wailed.
n. [countable]
- a wailing cry or sound.
wail
(wāl),USA pronunciation v.i.
v.t.
n.
wail′er, n.
wail′ing•ly, adv.
- to utter a prolonged, inarticulate, mournful cry, usually high-pitched or clear-sounding, as in grief or suffering:to wail with pain.
- to make mournful sounds, as music or the wind.
- to lament or mourn bitterly.
- Music and Dance[Jazz.]to perform exceptionally well.
- Slang Termsto express emotion musically or verbally in an exciting, satisfying way.
v.t.
- to express deep sorrow for;
mourn;
lament;
bewail:to wail the dead; to wail one's fate. - to express in wailing;
cry or say in lamentation:to wail one's grief.
n.
- the act of wailing.
- a wailing cry, as of grief, pain, or despair.
- any similar mournful sound:the wail of an old tune.
- 1300–50; Middle English weile (verb, verbal and noun, nominal), perh. derivative of Old English weilā(wei) well-away; compare Old English wǣlan to torment, Old Norse wǣla to wail
wail′ing•ly, adv.