bellow
B2Formal, Literary, Descriptive
Definition
Meaning
to shout in a deep, loud, angry voice; a deep roar.
To make the deep, loud cry of a bull or similar large animal. More generally, any loud, powerful, resonant sound or vocalization.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Both noun and verb forms exist. The verb implies great power and volume, often associated with anger, pain, or authority. The noun typically refers to the sound itself.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Neutral connotations of loudness and power in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally used and understood; slightly more common in literary or descriptive contexts than everyday speech in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] bellow (sth) (at sb)[verb] bellow (with/in sth)[noun] the bellow of sthVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “bellow like a bull”
- “bellow to be heard”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, unless describing an angry manager: 'The director bellowed his disapproval during the meeting.'
Academic
Used in literary analysis or descriptions of animal behaviour.
Everyday
Descriptive of someone shouting very loudly, often in anger: 'He bellowed up the stairs for me to come down.'
Technical
Used in zoology for animal vocalizations (e.g., the bellow of a stag).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The sergeant major would bellow commands across the parade ground.
- He bellowed in frustration when the computer crashed again.
American English
- The coach bellowed at the referee from the sidelines.
- From the barn, we could hear the bull bellow.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The man was very angry and bellowed loudly.
- The cow made a loud bellow.
- My father used to bellow my name when I was late for dinner.
- We heard the bellow of an elephant in the distance.
- The foreman bellowed instructions over the noise of the machinery.
- A sudden bellow from the audience silenced the performer.
- He bellowed his dissent, his voice reverberating through the chamber.
- The play opens with the primeval bellow of a creature in the mist.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a large, angry BELL that is so loud it makes you say 'OW!' → BELL-OW → BELLOW.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANGER IS AN EXPLOSIVE FORCE / A PERSON IS A LARGE ANIMAL.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'below' (ниже). 'Bellow' is unrelated in meaning.
- The Russian verb 'реветь' captures the animal-like roar, but 'bellow' for humans is more specific to a deep, authoritative shout, not just crying.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling confusion with 'below'.
- Using it for any shout, rather than a specifically deep and powerful one.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'bellow' correctly?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Bellow' specifies a deep, loud, and often angry or powerful shout, like that of a bull or an authoritative figure. 'Shout' is a general term for raising one's voice.
Yes, it is commonly used for the deep roar or cry of large animals like bulls, elephants, or stags.
It is more descriptive and vivid than formal. It's common in writing and storytelling but can be used in speech for emphasis.
Yes, 'a bellow' refers to the deep, loud shout or roar itself, e.g., 'He let out a bellow of laughter.'