moan

1 of 2

noun

ˈmōn How to pronounce moan (audio)
Synonyms of moannext
1
: lamentation, complaint
… made a great moan if he had to work …—D. H. Lawrence
2
: a low prolonged sound of pain or of grief
a moan of distress

moan

2 of 2

verb

moaned; moaning; moans

transitive verb

1
: to bewail audibly : lament
moaning the loss
2
: to utter with moans
"My stomach hurts," she moaned.

intransitive verb

1
: lament, complain
always moaning about work
2
a
: to make a moan : groan
injured patients moaning
b
: to emit a sound resembling a moan
The wind moaned in the trees.
moaner
ˈmō-nər How to pronounce moan (audio)
noun

Synonyms of moan

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Noun

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of moan in a Sentence

Noun She let out a long, deep moan. the moan of the wind the moan of the car's engine Verb The wounded soldier moaned in pain. He moaned with pleasure as she rubbed his back. We were all moaning about the cold, rainy weather. He's always moaning about his salary. The children were moaning and groaning all morning, but their mother would not let them go outside. I'm tired of all his moaning and groaning about his salary. “But I don't want to go,” moaned the boy. The wind moaned in the trees.
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.
Noun
In the decades after his death, Johnson’s loose playing and harrowing moans set American music on a path that would encompass Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, even Nas. — Steven Johnson, Washington Post, 14 July 2026 Sweet tweets, soft moans, the distant caw of a shore bird piloting toward the sea, spirited and hopeful, daylight already breaking through. — Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
Verb
As school starts again, some kids will moan and groan to their parents about the end of summer. — Amaia Gavica, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026 Video released by the Milwaukie Police Department shows Descamps sprawled in a hospital bed, his body limp, moaning and drooling, while medical staff stood nearby. — Brian Mann, NPR, 6 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for moan

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English mone, from Old English *mān

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of moan was in the 13th century

Phrases Containing moan

Rhymes for moan

See All Rhymes for moan

Browse Nearby Words

Moabitic
moan
moanful
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Moan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/moan. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

moan

1 of 2 noun
ˈmōn How to pronounce moan (audio)
1
: a long low sound indicating pain or grief
2
: a sound like a moan

moan

2 of 2 verb
1
: to utter a moan
2
: complain sense 1
3
: to utter with moans

More from Merriam-Webster on moan

Nglish: Translation of moan for Spanish Speakers

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