wail

About 1.08 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. verb To cry out, as in sorrow or anguish.
2. verb To weep, lament persistently or bitterly.
3. verb To make a noise like mourning or crying.

   The wind wailed and the rain streamed down.

4. verb To lament; to bewail; to grieve over.

   to wail one's death

5. verb To perform with great liveliness and force.
6. noun A prolonged cry, usually high-pitched, especially as of grief or anguish. .mw-parser-output .defdate{font-size:smaller}

   She let out a loud, doleful wail.

7. noun Any similar sound as of lamentation; a howl.

   The wail of snow-dark winter winds.

8. noun A sound made by emergency vehicle sirens, contrasted with "yelp" which is higher-pitched and faster.

Similar words

mewl whimper pule plaint ululate howl roar lamentation lament yawl

Often followed by

of and that in for from over as at

Word family

wailed wailer wailers wailing wails