Howl Definition & Meaning

howl
noun
  1. a long loud emotional utterance; "he gave a howl of pain"; "howls of laughter"; "their howling had no effect"
  2. the long plaintive cry of a hound or a wolf
  3. a loud sustained noise resembling the cry of a hound; "the howl of the wind made him restless"
verb
  1. emit long loud cries; "wail in self-pity"; "howl with sorrow"
  2. cry loudly, as of animals; "The coyotes were howling in the desert"
  3. make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles; "The wind was howling in the trees"; "The water roared down the chute"
  4. laugh unrestrainedly and heartily

Synonyms for howl

howling adj

extraordinarily good or great ; used especially as intensifiers; "a fantastic trip to the Orient

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
roar noun

a deep prolonged loud noise a very loud utterance (like the sound of an animal)

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
ululate verb

emit long loud cries; "wail in self-pity"; "howl with sorrow"

♫ Rhymes
ululation noun

a long loud emotional utterance; "he gave a howl of pain"; "howls of laughter"; "their howling had no effect"

♫ Rhymes
wail noun

a cry of sorrow and grief; "their pitiful laments could be heard throughout the ward" emit long loud cries

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
yammer verb

cry loudly, as of animals; "The coyotes were howling in the desert" complain whiningly

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms
yawl noun

a ship's small boat (usually rowed by 4 or 6 oars) a sailing vessel with two masts

♫ Rhymes
yowl noun

a very loud utterance (like the sound of an animal); "his bellow filled the hallway" cry loudly, as of animals

♫ Rhymes ↔ Synonyms

"Howl" in song lyrics

See how howl is used in real songs:

  • "My hunger is loud but I'm to thirstin to howl"
    Cero — Don Monstro Pt. 1
  • "All my wolves, blood we thirst, kill with Perc, moon we howl"
    MF Grimm — Howl
  • "Cat chow, meow, I'm on the prowl like Thurston Howl"
    Nine — Ova Confident

Words that rhyme with howl

See all rhymes for howl →

Usage tips for "howl"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "howl" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for howl to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with howl ↔ Synonyms for howl 🔬 Words containing howl

Frequently asked questions

What does howl mean?
a long loud emotional utterance; "he gave a howl of pain"; "howls of laughter"; "their howling had no effect" the long plaintive cry of a hound or a wolf a loud sustained noise resembling the cry of a hound; "the howl of the wind made him restless" emit long loud cries; "wail in self-pity"; "howl with sorrow" cry loudly, as of animals; "The coyotes were howling in the desert" make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles; "The wind was howling in the trees
What part of speech is howl?
Howl is a noun and a verb.
How many definitions does howl have?
Howl has 7 definitions across 2 parts of speech (noun, verb).

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