bawling: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low frequency; primarily literary, informal, or regional.Informal, often colloquial. Can be slightly pejorative or dismissive when describing adult crying.
Quick answer
What does “bawling” mean?
Crying loudly and unrestrainedly, especially associated with children or expressing strong emotion.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Crying loudly and unrestrainedly, especially associated with children or expressing strong emotion.
Shouting or yelling in a loud, harsh, and often annoying manner; can describe animals making loud, distressing noises.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both use the term similarly. Possibly slightly more common in British English in informal contexts describing children.
Connotations
Often conveys irritation or impatience from the observer (e.g., 'stop your bawling'). Can be used humorously for adults.
Frequency
Low frequency in both varieties; 'crying' or 'screaming' are far more common neutral terms.
Grammar
How to Use “bawling” in a Sentence
[Subject] + be + bawling[Subject] + start + bawling[Subject] + stop + bawlingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bawling” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The toddler started bawling when his biscuit broke.
- He's been bawling his eyes out since the final whistle.
American English
- The baby wouldn't stop bawling on the plane.
- She bawled when she heard the bad news.
adverb
British English
- He ran off bawling loudly into the night. (less common usage)
American English
- She protested bawlingly, but no one listened. (rare/archaic)
adjective
British English
- We could hear a bawling infant from the next flat.
- He gave a great, bawling performance of grief.
American English
- The bawling calf was separated from its mother.
- Her bawling tantrum echoed in the store.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Rare; may appear in literary analysis or historical texts.
Everyday
Informal use, often for children or hyperbolic description of adults.
Technical
Not used.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bawling”
- Misspelling as 'balling' (which means playing basketball or, slangily, having sex).
- Using it in formal contexts.
- Confusing it with 'brawling' (fighting).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be used for adults, but it often implies childish, unrestrained, or undignified loud crying and may be dismissive or humorous.
'Bawling' is a subset of 'crying' that emphasizes loudness, lack of control, and often an irritating quality. All bawling is crying, but not all crying is bawling.
Yes, though less common. It can mean shouting or yelling in a loud, rough, or scolding manner (e.g., 'The sergeant was bawling orders'). This sense is closer to 'bellowing'.
It is informal and can be perceived as insensitive or mocking if used to describe someone's genuine, quiet distress. It's fine for describing noisy children or used hyperbolically among friends.
Crying loudly and unrestrainedly, especially associated with children or expressing strong emotion.
Bawling is usually informal, often colloquial. can be slightly pejorative or dismissive when describing adult crying. in register.
Bawling: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɔː.lɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɑː.lɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bawling one's eyes out”
- “bawling like a banshee”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a BALL (sounds like 'bawl') being thrown that makes a baby start crying LOUDLY – BAWLing.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOUD SOUND IS A PHYSICAL FORCE (e.g., 'bawling his head off').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'bawling' LEAST appropriate?