howl

verb

ˈhau̇(-ə)l How to pronounce howl (audio)
howled; howling; howls
Synonyms of howl

intransitive verb

1
: to emit a loud sustained doleful sound characteristic of members of the dog family
2
: to cry out loudly and without restraint under strong impulse (such as pain, grief, or amusement)
3
: to go on a spree or rampage

transitive verb

1
: to utter with unrestrained outcry
2
: to drown out or cause to fail by adverse outcry
—used especially with down
howl noun

Synonyms of howl

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Examples of howl in a Sentence

The dogs were howling at the moon. several coyotes began howling close by as the sun went down
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The living room and bedrooms faced 96th, a crosstown corridor over which ambulances and police cars sped day and night, their sirens howling. — Via Scribner, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026 At the Irish Rep, director Ciarán O’Reilly has brought O’Neill’s expressionist howl back for a swift, sturdy, smaller-scale revival that now feels unnervingly on-the-pulse. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026 The masked figure then loops back, and a howling Wood appears in the frame. — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026 Late one night in October, 2017, Jane Marx, a landscape architect in the wine country of Northern California, woke up to the smell of smoke and the sound of an eerie, howling wind. — Ingfei Chen, New Yorker, 18 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for howl

Word History

Etymology

Middle English houlen; akin to Middle High German hiulen to howl

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of howl was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing howl

Rhymes for howl

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Browse Nearby Words

howkit
howl
howler
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Howl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/howl. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

howl

verb
ˈhau̇(ə)l How to pronounce howl (audio)
1
: to make a long loud mournful sound like that of a dog
2
: to cry out loudly (as with pain, grief, or amusement)
howled in protest
howling with laughter
3
: to drown out or cause to fail by an outcry
howled down the opposition
howl noun
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