2026

Howl

//haʊl//

Definitions

nounhowls

1
The protracted, mournful cry of a dog, wolf or other canid; also of other animals.
[T]he fox was out on love-adventures, abused his rivals, and uttered scoffing screams and howls.
2
Any similar sound.
The howl of the wind
3
A prolonged cry of distress or anguish; a wail.

verbhowls · howling · howled

1
To utter a loud, protracted, mournful sound or cry, as dogs and wolves often do.
Methought a legion of foul fiends / Environ'd me about, and howled in my ears.
2
To utter a sound expressive of pain or distress; to cry aloud and mournfully; to lament; to wail.

Word Origin

From Middle English howlen, houlen, from Old English *hūlian, from Proto-West Germanic *hūilōn, from Proto-Germanic *hūwilōną, *hiuwilōną (“to howl”), perhaps from Proto-Indo-European *kū-, *kew- (“to...

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