moaning

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "moaning" is correct and usable in written English.
It is a verb used to describe a sound made by a person expressing sadness, pain, or disapproval. Example sentence: The patient was moaning in pain as the nurse set her broken arm.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For all their moaning about Chinooks or body armour, they make the decisions on where to spend (and overspend) the money, sorting it out between themselves before going to elected ministers.

The Guardian - Opinion

"It was very convenient from 2005 to a few years ago to be this person moaning about stuff because, in my mind, it seemed that the critical perception of me as good was not reflected by my audience sizes or anything like that.

The Guardian

You get annoyed about things in real life and then the tragic thing is that while you are moaning on the awful injustice and suffering of something, something grimly comic will then strike you about it, like a parasite feeding off the misery of the world.

The Guardian

People who don't understand the game think that we sit around wet, cold grounds, eating pies and drinking Bovril, moaning about the huge salaries that the many hapless stars on show are able to command.

The Guardian - Sport

A handful of casual references in which pleasure is one's own are slickly antithetical to any male musician – from Serge Gainsbourg to Skinny Puppy – who ever plunked the sound of a woman moaning into a song for the sake of masculine bravado.

The Guardian - Music

As British as the Union Jack, James Bond and moaning about the weather.

The Guardian - Opinion

"People were moaning, 'Papu, Papu' – meaning local people," said the witness to the filmed events.

The Guardian

Palm trees burned slowly, their fronds crackling and moaning while a heavy stench of dead bodies wrapped the village.

The Guardian

The soccer player who performs in front of 70,000 people at the weekend will be moaning about too many games and trying to sell you his personalised brand of leisure wear".

The Guardian

Steal My Girl offers the most joyous opening two seconds of any song, although a song moaning about someone trying to steal a 1D member's girl is a bit rich given the song at No 20.

The Guardian - Music

Some are moaning about the rolling road closures and others think the Tour de France was a one-off and should have been left as such.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "moaning" to describe sounds, ensure the context clearly indicates whether it's due to pain, pleasure, or some other emotion. Clarity is key.

Common error

Avoid using "moaning" when a softer term like "sighing" is more appropriate. "Moaning" implies a significant level of distress or pleasure, which may be an overstatement.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "moaning" is as a verb, often used in its present participle form (-ing) to describe an ongoing action or state. Ludwig shows its frequent use in describing sounds related to distress, complaining, or, less commonly, pleasure.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

30%

Science

20%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Reference

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "moaning" functions primarily as a verb used to describe sounds expressing pain, displeasure, or sometimes pleasure. As shown by Ludwig, its grammatical status is correct, and its frequency is very common across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Formal & Business. While "moaning" is generally acceptable, it's important to consider the context and intensity to avoid misinterpretations. Ludwig AI confirms its versatile use and offers a wide range of examples for reference, aiding in accurate and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

complaining

Focuses on expressing dissatisfaction or discontent verbally.

groaning

Emphasizes a deep, prolonged sound of pain or displeasure.

whining

Suggests a high-pitched, irritating form of complaining.

lamenting

Highlights expressing sorrow or grief.

grumbling

Implies a low, indistinct complaint, often muttered.

bemoaning

Indicates expressing regret or sorrow about something.

wailing

Conveys a loud, prolonged cry of sorrow or pain.

bellyaching

An informal term for complaining persistently.

murmuring

Focuses on a low, indistinct sound, possibly of complaint.

griping

Suggests complaining or nagging persistently.

FAQs

How to use "moaning" in a sentence?

You can use "moaning" to describe sounds of pain, pleasure, or discontent. For example, "The injured soldier was moaning in agony," or "The wind was moaning through the trees."

What can I say instead of "moaning"?

You can use alternatives like "complaining", "groaning", or "whining" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "moaning" or "groaning"?

Both "moaning" and "groaning" describe sounds, but "moaning" can imply a wider range of emotions (pain, pleasure, discontent), while "groaning" typically suggests pain or effort. The best choice depends on the specific context.

What's the difference between "moaning" and "lamenting"?

"Moaning" refers to making a low, mournful sound, while "lamenting" means expressing sorrow or regret. "Moaning" focuses on the sound itself, and "lamenting" focuses on expressing grief through words or sounds.