groaned; groaning; groans
1
: to utter a deep moan indicative of pain, grief, or annoyance
groaned when she saw the bill
2
: to make a harsh sound (as of creaking) under sudden or prolonged strain
The chair groaned under his weight.
: to utter or express with groaning
groaned their despair
groan
noun
Examples of groan in a Sentence
The wounded man groaned in pain.
She groaned when she saw the bill.
“Oh, no,” she groaned, “I'm going to have to start all over.”
She groaned that she would have to start all over.
Merchants are groaning over slow holiday sales.
He's always moaning and groaning about his salary.
The chair groaned under his weight.
Recent Examples on the Web
The most delightful moments of the entire endeavor come in the premiere, directed by Robert Alexander, as established SNL alums watch their own auditions, tearing up (Heidi Gardner) or groaning (Bowen Yang) or adamantly refusing to participate before gamely consenting to a minute or two (Poehler).
—
Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Jan. 2025
Jessie Mazar squeezed the grab handle in her husband’s pickup and groaned as contractions struck her during the 90-minute drive from her home in rural northeastern California to the closest hospital with a maternity unit.
—Ronnie Cohen, Sacramento Bee, 8 Jan. 2025
Twitching and groaning in pain, Richard called for his mother as police handcuffed him, dragged him out of B-312 and placed him in the back seat of a squad car.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
The bridge groaned and shivered as the log ducked under it, scraped against its underside, and shot out the other end.
—Gary Greenberg, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for groan 
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Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Jan. 2025
Jessie Mazar squeezed the grab handle in her husband’s pickup and groaned as contractions struck her during the 90-minute drive from her home in rural northeastern California to the closest hospital with a maternity unit.
—Ronnie Cohen, Sacramento Bee, 8 Jan. 2025
Twitching and groaning in pain, Richard called for his mother as police handcuffed him, dragged him out of B-312 and placed him in the back seat of a squad car.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
The bridge groaned and shivered as the log ducked under it, scraped against its underside, and shot out the other end.
—Gary Greenberg, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for groan
Dictionary Entries Near groan
Cite this Entry
“Groan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/groan. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
groan
verb1
: to utter a deep moan of pain, grief, or irritation
2
: to make a harsh sound under strain
the chair groaned under my weight
groan
noun
groaner
noun
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