bawl
C1Informal
Definition
Meaning
To shout or cry out loudly and often uncontrollably, typically with strong emotion.
The verb can describe both loud, unrestrained crying (often of a child) and shouting in a rough, loud, and angry manner. It emphasizes a lack of vocal control and a raw, emotional outburst.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word carries strong connotations of a loss of control, coarseness, or childishness. It is rarely used in a positive context. When referring to speech, it suggests anger or command; when referring to crying, it suggests self-pity, pain, or immaturity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical in both varieties. The term is understood and used similarly.
Connotations
Identical connotations of loud, uncontrolled, and often unrefined vocal expression.
Frequency
Equally common and informal in both dialects.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] + bawl (+ [Adverbial])[Subject] + bawl + at + [Object] (person)[Subject] + bawl + out + [Object] (words/speech)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bawl someone out (to scold loudly)”
- “bawl one's eyes/head off (to cry very loudly and at length)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Highly uncommon and inappropriate. Would imply extreme, unprofessional anger.
Academic
Virtually never used, except perhaps in literary analysis of dialogue.
Everyday
Common in informal descriptions, especially of children's behaviour or angry confrontations.
Technical
Not used.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The toddler started to bawl when his ice cream fell.
- The sergeant would bawl orders across the parade ground.
American English
- Don't bawl at me—it wasn't my fault!
- After the fight, he went to his room and bawled for an hour.
adverb
British English
- N/A (not standard).
American English
- N/A (not standard).
adjective
British English
- N/A (not standard). The participial adjective 'bawling' is used: 'a bawling infant'.
American English
- N/A (not standard). The participial adjective 'bawling' is used: 'the bawling fans'.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The baby is bawling because he is hungry.
- I could hear a child bawling in the supermarket.
- Stop bawling and tell me what's wrong.
- He bawled out the lyrics to the song, completely out of tune.
- She wasn't just crying; she was bawling her eyes out after the film.
- The director bawled at the stagehands for the technical mishap.
- His criticism wasn't constructive; it was just a prolonged bawling-out meant to humiliate.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a big, bawling BABY or a BALL coach yelling. Both are LOUD.
Conceptual Metaphor
EMOTIONAL PRESSURE IS A PHYSICAL FORCE (that erupts from the mouth).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'bowl' (миска).
- The common Russian translation 'реветь' captures the crying sense well for animals/children, but for shouting, 'орать' or 'вопить' are closer equivalents than 'кричать'.
- The phrasal verb 'bawl out' (to scold) is idiomatic and does not directly translate to just shouting.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'ball'.
- Using it in formal contexts.
- Overusing it for any kind of crying or shouting where a more neutral term (weep, shout) is appropriate.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'bawl' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Bawl' is a verb meaning to shout or cry loudly. 'Ball' is primarily a noun for a spherical object or a formal dance. They are homophones (sound the same) but have completely different meanings and spellings.
It's not a swear word, but it is informal and often describes rude or uncontrolled behaviour. Describing someone as 'bawling' can be perceived as derogatory or unsympathetic.
Yes, this is its core feature. It can mean to shout angrily or to cry noisily. The context makes the specific meaning clear (e.g., 'bawl orders' vs. 'bawl in despair').
It means to reprimand or scold someone loudly and severely. Example: 'My boss bawled me out for missing the deadline.'
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