Groan
ɡroʊn
Definitions
2 meaningsTo utter a deep sound in response to pain, grief, or disapproval.
ɡroʊn
To make a deep, inarticulate sound expressing pain, grief, or disapproval.
The injured athlete groaned in pain.
💡 Simply: It's like when you say 'Ugh!' because something hurts, or you're really bummed out. Like, when your video game character gets hurt, they might groan.
👶 For kids: To make a loud, unhappy sound because you are hurt, sad, or don't like something.
More Examples
He groaned at the terrible joke.
The old house groaned in the wind.
How It's Used
"The patient groaned in pain after the injury."
"She groaned at the thought of doing chores."
"He groaned with relief when he heard the news."
The act or sound of groaning.
ɡroʊn
A deep, inarticulate sound expressing pain, grief, or disapproval.
The patient let out a groan of pain.
💡 Simply: The 'Ugh!' sound when something hurts, or you're annoyed. It's like the sound effect.
👶 For kids: The loud, unhappy sound someone makes when they are hurt, sad, or don't like something.
More Examples
A groan went through the crowd when the referee made a bad call.
The groan of the old floorboards echoed through the house.
How It's Used
"The room was filled with groans of the suffering."
"A collective groan arose from the audience."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
groan under the weight of something
To be burdened or overwhelmed by something.
"The company is groaning under the weight of debt."
From Middle English *gronen*, from Old English *grānian* (“to groan”), from Proto-Germanic *grōjaną* (“to groan”), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰrey-* (“to cry, scream”). Cognate with Dutch *grommen* (“to grumble, growl”), German *grunzen* (“to grunt”), and Latin *grunnire* (“to grunt”).
The word has been used in literature for centuries to depict suffering and displeasure.
Memory tip
Imagine someone hitting their thumb with a hammer – that involuntary sound is a groan.
Word Origin
"to groan"