wail

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "wail" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a loud, mournful cry or expression of grief, often in the context of sorrow or distress. Example: "She began to wail when she heard the news of her friend's passing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I had someone to wail down the phone to, and I did.

The Guardian

Holland recalls an Old Vic production in which Wilfred Brambell played the stationmaster for laughs, prompting the author to wail: "You've ruined my play!" One wonders what he would have made of an elderly spinster played by a Spanish actor in drag, or of the appearance of a woman dressed as a parrot.

The Guardian

It includes a garden roller "propelled over fence struts 30 inches apart", an 18-gallon galvanised tank, an E-flat bell, an auctioneer's hammer and, most importantly for that blood-curdling wail, "three air cylinders, available from British Oxygen Co, Wembley, or local agent".

The Guardian

It began as a gentle shudder and then became a genuine wail.

The Guardian

That one actually made me wail!

The Guardian

This, the nativists wail, is an "amnesty" that will attract another surge of illegals across the border.Mr Bush is trying to placate this group with promises of tougher border security.

The Economist

She continued to wail, talking to herself about the need to "die with dignity".

The Economist

A wail of "It's not fair!" is usually the first normative statement to come out of the mouths of babes and sucklings.

The Economist

But football-ambivalent America will be a hard sell.In this section Frozen taps The Big Easy Allegro con brio Stark start Rail wail Boxing clever Bleeding them dry Nanny deflation A New Labour nightmare Reprints Related items Turkish delight: Every Euro-way they canMay 29th 2003 Celebrity economics: Land of hoped-for glorySep 26th 2002His other half is faring even worse.

The Economist

A great and incoherent wail has now gone up against the whole of America's prosecution of the war against terrorism.

The Economist

In London, the cameras are set to flash at a speedy 43mph in order, amazingly, to reduce the work load of issuing fixed-penalty notices.In this section Frozen taps The Big Easy Allegro con brio Stark start Rail wail Boxing clever Bleeding them dry Nanny deflation A New Labour nightmare ReprintsGiven public habits, it is easy to see that enforcing the law would be a lot of work, at least at first.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "wail" to describe a prolonged, high-pitched cry of sorrow, grief, or pain. It can also refer to a similar sound made by objects like wind or sirens.

Common error

Avoid using "wail" when "cry" or "weep" would suffice for simple sadness. "Wail" implies a deeper, more intense expression of sorrow.

Linguistic Context

The word "wail" functions primarily as both a verb, describing the act of crying out in sorrow or anguish, and a noun, referring to the prolonged cry itself. Ludwig AI's examples show its usage in describing both human emotions and sounds made by objects.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Academia

3%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "wail" serves both as a verb and a noun, denoting a prolonged, high-pitched cry of sorrow or a similar mournful sound. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent use across various contexts, primarily in News & Media, where it conveys intense emotions or describes evocative sounds. While grammatically sound and widely accepted, using "wail" appropriately requires understanding its implication of deep sorrow. Alternatives like "cry out in sorrow" or "lament loudly" can provide nuanced expressions depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cry bitterly

Focuses on the emotional intensity of crying, similar to the sorrow expressed in a "wail".

cry out in sorrow

Emphasizes the vocal expression of grief, similar to "wail" but less intense.

weep and moan

Combines crying and groaning, portraying a physical and emotional display of distress similar to "wail".

lament loudly

Focuses on the act of expressing sorrow, making it a more formal alternative to "wail".

keen

Describes a piercing cry of grief, often associated with mourning rituals, similar to a sustained "wail".

howl in anguish

Suggests a more animalistic and intense expression of suffering than "wail".

emit a prolonged cry

Describes the action of producing a drawn-out sound, sharing the long, mournful aspect of a "wail".

ululate

Describes a high-pitched, wavering cry, often associated with lamentation, similar to a specific type of "wail".

bawl

Implies loud, unrestrained crying, sharing the intensity of "wail" but more commonly associated with children.

yowl

Suggests a distressed cry, often used for animals, but can describe a human "wail" in extreme situations.

FAQs

How can I use "wail" in a sentence?

You can use "wail" to describe someone crying loudly in sorrow, as in "She began to wail when she heard the news". It can also describe a sound, such as "The wind made the windows wail".

What can I say instead of "wail"?

You can use alternatives like "cry out in sorrow", "lament loudly", or "howl in anguish" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "wail" to describe a non-human sound?

Yes, "wail" can be used to describe sounds made by wind, sirens, or other objects, especially when the sound is prolonged and mournful. For example, "The train's whistle began to wail in the distance".

What's the difference between "wail" and "whimper"?

"Wail" describes a loud, prolonged cry of sorrow, while "whimper" refers to a quiet, subdued crying or whimpering. "Wail" is more intense and noticeable than "whimper".