groan

[ grohn ]
/ groʊn /

noun

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

to utter or express with groans.

Origin of groan

before 900; Middle English gronen, Old English grānian; cognate with German greinen to whine

SYNONYMS FOR groan

1 Groan, moan refer to sounds indicating deep suffering. A groan is a brief, strong, deep-throated sound emitted involuntarily under pressure of pain or suffering: The wounded man groaned when they lifted him. A moan is a prolonged, more or less continuous, low, inarticulate sound indicative of suffering, either physical or mental: She was moaning after the operation. She did not weep, but moaned softly.

OTHER WORDS FROM groan

groan·er, noun groan·ing·ly, adverb un·der·groan, noun un·groan·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH groan

groan grown (see synonym study at the current entry)

Example sentences from the Web for groan

British Dictionary definitions for groan

groan
/ (ɡrəʊn) /

noun

a prolonged stressed dull cry expressive of agony, pain, or disapproval
a loud harsh creaking sound, as of a tree bending in the wind
informal a grumble or complaint, esp a persistent one

verb

Derived forms of groan

groaning, noun, adjective groaningly, adverb

Word Origin for groan

Old English grānian; related to Old Norse grīna, Old High German grīnan; see grin