howl

verb

ˈhau̇(-ə)l 

howled; howling; howls

intransitive verb

1

: to emit a loud sustained doleful sound characteristic of members of the dog family

2

: to cry out loudly and without restraint under strong impulse (such as pain, grief, or amusement)

3

: to go on a spree or rampage

transitive verb

1

: to utter with unrestrained outcry

2

: to drown out or cause to fail by adverse outcry

—used especially with down

howl noun

Synonyms

• bay
• keen
• ululate
• wail
• yowl

Examples of howl in a Sentence

The dogs were howling at the moon.

several coyotes began howling close by as the sun went down

Recent Examples on the Web

At the end of the night, Huerter was the one howling into the rafters in a moment of triumph after plunging two big daggers into the heart of his former team. —Jason Anderson, Sacramento Bee, 21 Mar. 2025

As the wind howled like a revving jet engine, local people retreated to their homes to play board games. —Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2025

The American Kennel Club says that canines may howl in response to music due to their ancestral connection to wolves, who use howling as a form of communication. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025

Katt and his team kept relocating to fight the flames as the winds howled and the fire grew bigger and bigger. —Sasha Hupka, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English houlen; akin to Middle High German hiulen to howl

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing howl

• howl with laughter

Rhymes for howl

• foul
• foule
• fowl
• growl
• jowl
• owl
• prowl
• scowl
• afoul
• wildfowl
• waterfowl

Kids Definition

howl

verb

ˈhau̇(ə)l 

1

: to make a long loud mournful sound like that of a dog

2

: to cry out loudly (as with pain, grief, or amusement)

howled in protest

howling with laughter

3

: to drown out or cause to fail by an outcry

howled down the opposition

howl noun