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Definition of howl

howl

/haʊl/
howl

Adverb:howlingly
•
Plural:howls
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Adjective:howling
•
Past Simple:howled
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Past Participle:howled
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Present Participle:howling
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howl Lexical Profile

howl Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A long, doleful cry uttered by an animal such as a dog or wolf.

Example

"The lonely howl of a coyote echoed across the desert canyon at dusk."


2

A loud, prolonged cry of pain, rage, or uncontrolled laughter from a person.

Example

"The comedian's unexpected punchline was met with a howl of laughter from the front row."


3

A loud, wailing sound made by strong wind or an electrical amplifier.

Example

"We stayed indoors and listened to the eerie howl of the winter gale outside."

Synonyms
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• verb

1

To utter a long, mournful cry (characteristic of a dog or wolf).

Example

"The hounds began to howl as soon as the full moon rose above the trees."


2

To cry out loudly in pain, anger, protest, or unrestrained amusement.

Example

"The toddler began to howl when his favorite toy was taken away."


3

To blow forcefully with a loud, wailing sound (especially of the wind).

Example

"Fierce autumn winds howled through the narrow mountain pass all night."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for howl

Word Origin & Etymology

From Middle English houlen, of imitative origin and closely related to Middle Dutch hulen and Middle Low German hulen.

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Howl. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/howl
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