[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/wailing/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [W](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/w/) / wailing # wailing noun (wailing, uncountable); verb, -ing form of wail (wail, wails, wailed, wailing); adjective (wailing) «wailing» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. A long, loud, high cry of pain, sadness or anger. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wailing/#m1) 2. A long, high sound like a cry, such as a siren or the wind. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wailing/#m2) 3. (informal) Complaining loudly and at length. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wailing/#m3) 4. The Wailing Wall is a name for the Western Wall in Jerusalem, a holy place where Jewish people pray. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wailing/#m4) ### In the lessons In stories, wailing tells the reader that someone is very upset: a baby wailing in the night, mourners wailing at a funeral. It can also describe sounds: a wailing siren or the wind wailing in the chimney. The Western Wall in Jerusalem is a very holy place for Jewish people; "Wailing Wall" is an older name, and many prefer "Western Wall". Phrases: "wailing and crying", "a wailing siren", "the Wailing Wall". ### Examples - The baby was wailing in the middle of the night. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wailing/#x1) - We heard the wailing of a fire engine's siren. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wailing/#x2) - The wind was wailing around the old house. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wailing/#x3) - There was wailing and crying when the dog ran away. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wailing/#x4) - Stop wailing about your homework and just start it! [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wailing/#x5) - People pray at the Western Wall, also called the Wailing Wall. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wailing/#x6) - The ghost in the story made a terrible wailing sound. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wailing/#x7) - In one of the houses he heard cries and wailing. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wailing/#x8) ### Note "Wail" is a regular verb (wailed, wailing). Homophone trap: "wailing" sounds like "whaling" (hunting whales) and "Wales" sounds like "wails"; check the spelling by meaning. Wailing is louder and longer than crying or sobbing. ## In Jewish tradition In Genesis it is the loud crying of mourning. The prophets use it for the cry of grief when a city, people or leaders fall. **Interpretation.** The seven-day mourning for Jacob is a model for the Jewish custom of shiva, the seven days of mourning after a death. The prophets' wailing is read as grief over the coming ruin. ### Examples - And they came to the threshing-floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and there they wailed with a very great and sore wailing; and he made a mourning for his father seven days. (Torah GEN.50.10, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/wailing/#x1) - For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion: 'How are we undone! (Prophets JER.9.18, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/wailing/#x2) - Hark! the cry of the shepherds, and the wailing of the leaders of the flock! (Prophets JER.25.36, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/wailing/#x3) - Hark! the wailing of the shepherds, for their glory is spoiled; Hark! the roaring of young lions, for the thickets of the Jordan are spoiled. (Prophets ZEC.11.3, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/wailing/#x4) ### Note "Wail" is a regular verb (wailed, wailing). Homophone trap: "wailing" sounds like "whaling" (hunting whales) and "Wales" sounds like "wails"; check the spelling by meaning. Wailing is louder and longer than crying or sobbing. ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «wailing» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/W/wailing/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«wailing» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/wailing.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «wailing» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/W/wailing/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«wailing» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/wailing.html) on Mova free.