howl
B2Informal, but also neutral in specific contexts (e.g., describing animals, wind).
Definition
Meaning
to make a long, loud, mournful cry, typically as an expression of pain, distress, or strong emotion; characteristic of wolves, dogs, or the wind.
To laugh or protest loudly and unrestrainedly; to express something forcefully and vocally.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Strongly associated with animal sounds (wolves, dogs) and atmospheric sounds (wind). When applied to humans, it often suggests a raw, uncontrolled vocal expression of emotion (laughter, pain, protest).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Sb] howl[Sb] howl with + noun (laughter, pain)[Sb] howl + adv/prep (down, into, through)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “howl down (to drown out a speaker with loud noise)”
- “howl at the moon (to protest futilely)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Metaphorical: 'The shareholders howled in protest at the new policy.'
Academic
Used in literature/zoology contexts: 'The study analysed the frequency of wolf howls.'
Everyday
Common: 'The wind was howling outside.' 'We howled with laughter at the joke.'
Technical
Meteorology: describing high-wind events; Zoology: describing animal communication.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The gale-force winds began to howl around the chimney.
- The supporters howled in derision at the referee's decision.
- We could hear foxes howling in the woods last night.
American English
- The coyotes were howling out on the mesa all night.
- The crowd howled with laughter at the comedian's routine.
- Protesters howled down the mayor's attempt to speak.
adverb
British English
- Not typically used as an adverb.
American English
- Not typically used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- 'Howling' is used adjectivally (e.g., a howling gale, a howling success).
American English
- 'Howling' is used adjectivally (e.g., a howling windstorm, a howling mob).
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The dog howls when it is alone.
- The baby howled all night.
- We heard a wolf howling in the distance.
- The strong wind howled through the trees.
- The audience howled with laughter during the funny scene.
- The opposition party howled in protest at the new law.
- His speech was met with howls of derision from the assembled experts.
- The singer's powerful voice howled the lyrics into the microphone, full of raw emotion.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a HOUND OWLing at the moon – HOUND + OWL sounds like HOWL.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOUD COMPLAINT IS THE HOWLING OF ANIMALS (e.g., 'The crowd howled its disapproval.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not a direct equivalent of 'выть'. 'Howl' is specifically loud and prolonged, whereas 'выть' can be quieter/more mournful. For human crying/whimpering, 'whimper', 'sob', or 'cry' may be better fits.
- Avoid overusing 'howl' for human sadness; it implies a wild, uncontrolled sound.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'She howled quietly in the corner.' (Contradiction in terms)
- Incorrect preposition: 'He howled from pain' (use 'with pain').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'howl' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it indicates very loud, often uncontrolled vocalisation, like howling with laughter or howling in pain/protest.
'Howl' suggests a longer, more sustained, often mournful or wild sound. 'Scream' is sharper, shorter, and often linked to fear or surprise.
No. While its primary use is for animals (wolves, dogs) and wind, it is commonly used metaphorically for loud human emotion and vocal reaction.
It is an idiom meaning to prevent a speaker from being heard by making loud cries of disapproval or shouting.