wallowwal‧low /ˈwɒləʊ $ ˈwɑːloʊ/ verb [intransitive] 
Word Origin Examples
He’d been feeling sorry for himself, wallowing in self-pity.2if an animal or person wallows, it rolls around in mud, water etc for pleasure or to keep cool: hippos wallowing in the mud3if a ship or boat wallows, it moves with difficulty through a rough sea—wallow noun [countable]
Word OriginWORD ORIGINwallow
Verb TableOrigin:
Old English wealwian ‘to roll’VERB TABLE
wallow
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | wallow |
| he, she, it | wallows | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | wallowed |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have wallowed |
| he, she, it | has wallowed | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had wallowed |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will wallow |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have wallowed |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am wallowing |
| he, she, it | is wallowing | |
| you, we, they | are wallowing | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was wallowing |
| you, we, they | were wallowing | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been wallowing |
| he, she, it | has been wallowing | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been wallowing |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be wallowing |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been wallowing |
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
Thesaurus- If you were fond of hot water, you wallowed in a sunken basin.
- It wallowed alongside, its big engines growling.
- Nor was he a man who wallowed constantly in self-pity.
- Water buffalo pulled plows or wallowed in the paddies.
Longman Language Activatorto enjoy something, especially something bad or wrong► revel in
Phrases to enjoy something that most people would not like: · Her job is very stressful, but she seems to revel in it.revel in doing something: · Tom seems to revel in disagreeing with everything I say.
► get a kick out of to enjoy doing something, especially something that is difficult, dangerous, or unkind: · I love speaking to a large audience. I get a real kick out of it.get a kick out of doing something: · Maggie seems to get a big kick out of flirting with other people's husbands.
► relish to very much enjoy doing something that is difficult or hurts other people: · Setting up your own business is never easy, but Frank relished the challenge.relish doing something: · The interviewer seemed to relish asking her personal questions.relish the chance/opportunity to do something: · I stayed with an Israeli family, and relished the chance to soak up their culture at ground-level.relish the thought/prospect/idea of doing something (=relish the idea of doing something in the future): · She clearly relished the prospect of breaking the news to them.· I really didn't relish the idea of being alone for two weeks.
► gloat to get pleasure from someone else's failure or bad luck, especially when you have been more successful or luckier than them: · "I told you that idea wouldn't work.'' "Well, there's no need to gloat.''gloat about/at/over: · Jane used to gloat over other people's misfortunes.· "What are you gloating about?" he said in an irritated voice.
► wallow in to enjoy being sad, feeling sorry for yourself etc, especially in order to make people notice you and pay attention to you: wallow in grief/guilt/pity etc: · Since his girlfriend left him, he's been wallowing in self-pity.· Wallowing in angst at the unfairness of it all will only make the problem worse.
► take pleasure in to enjoy doing something bad to other people: · Charlie's always bullying the smaller kids. He seems to take pleasure in it.take pleasure in doing something: · He appears to take pleasure in hurting her feelings.
► delight in to enjoy doing something that makes other people feel a little uncomfortable or embarrassed: · Most people delight in a bit of scandal, especially when it involves public figures.delight in doing something: · She's the kind of woman who delights in pointing out other people's mistakes.
to feel sad and pity yourself► feel sorry for yourself especially spoken to spend a lot of time thinking about how unlucky you are or how unfairly you have been treated, in a way that annoys other people: · Stop blaming other people and feeling sorry for yourself.· Andy was drinking too much again, and feeling sorry for himself.
► mope to feel unhappy because of something bad that has happened, and to not be interested in doing anything, in a way that other people think is not reasonable: · Don't just lie there moping, waiting for the phone to ring.mope around/about (=go around a place moping): · He's not even attempting to look for a job -- he just mopes around the house all day.mope over: · There's no point moping over Jane - she's not worth it.
► wallow in: wallow in self-pity/despair/misery etc to keep thinking about how unhappy you are, in a way that makes other people think that you are actually enjoying feeling sorry for yourself and do not want to feel happier: · She told herself that she must try and learn from his criticism, rather than wallowing in self-pity.· It's no good wallowing in misery. You just have to get out there and find another job.
► self-pity the feeling you have when you feel sorry for yourself, because you think that you have been very unlucky or that you have been treated unfairly: · If you feel a wave of self-pity coming on, go and talk about it with friends.· Jenny told her story without any of the self-pity that I thought I would feel after such an ordeal.
WORD SETS► Animalsaardvark, nounadder, nounAfghan, nounalley cat, nounalligator, nounalpaca, nounAlsatian, nounamphibian, nounamphibious, adjectiveangora, nounanimal, nounanteater, nounantelope, nounanthropoid, adjectiveantler, nounape, nounappaloosa, nounarachnid, nounarmadillo, nounasp, nounass, nounbaa, verbbaboon, nounbaby, nounbadger, nounbantam, nounbark, verbbark, nounbarnacle, nounbasset, nounbat, nounbay, nounbay, verbbay, adjectivebeagle, nounbear, nounbeast, nounbeast of burden, nounbeaver, nounbellow, verbbellow, nounbelly, nounbig cat, nounbig game, nounbighorn sheep, nounbilly goat, nounbiped, nounbison, nounbitch, nounbivalve, nounbleat, verbbloodhound, nounbloodstream, nounblow-hole, nounboa, nounboar, nounbobcat, nounbovine, adjectivebow-wow, nounboxer, nounbrainwave, nounbrindled, adjectivebristle, verbbronc, nounbronco, nounbrontosaurus, nounbrush, nounbuck, nounbuffalo, nounbull, nounbulldog, nounbullfrog, nounbullock, nounbull terrier, nounburro, nounburrow, nouncalf, nouncall, nouncalve, verbcamel, nouncanine, adjectivecanine, nouncarapace, nouncarcass, nouncaribou, nouncarnivore, nouncarthorse, nouncat, nouncattle, nouncaudal, adjectivecayman, nouncetacean, nounchameleon, nounchamois, nouncheetah, nounchestnut, nounchickadee, nounchicken, nounchihuahua, nounchimpanzee, nounchinchilla, nounchipmunk, nounchow, nounclaw, nouncloven hoof, nouncoat, nouncob, nouncobra, nouncocker spaniel, nouncold-blooded, adjectivecollie, nouncolouring, nouncolt, nouncomb, nounconnective tissue, nouncony, nouncoon, nouncopperhead, nouncorgi, nouncougar, nouncourtship, nouncow, nouncoyote, nouncoypu, nouncrest, nouncrocodile, nouncrop, verbcrustacean, nouncry, nouncub, nouncur, noundachshund, nounDalmatian, noundeer, nounden, noundentine, noundingo, noundinosaur, noundoe, noundog, noundolphin, noundomesticate, verbdonkey, noundormouse, noundorsal, adjectivedromedary, nounduckbilled platypus, nounearthworm, nounelephant, nounelk, nounentrails, nounermine, nounewe, nounexcreta, nounexcretion, nounfallopian tube, nounfallow deer, nounfang, nounfauna, nounfawn, nounfeed, nounfeeler, nounfeline, adjectivefeline, nounfemale, adjectivefemale, nounferal, adjectiveferret, nounfetlock, nounfieldmouse, nounfilly, nounfin, nounfleece, nounflipper, nounflying fox, nounfoal, nounfoal, verbfoetus, nounforefoot, nounforeleg, nounfox, nounfoxhound, nounfox terrier, nounFriesian, nounfrog, nounfrogspawn, nounfruit bat, nounfur, nounfurry, adjectivegarter snake, noungazelle, noungecko, noungeese, gelding, noungerbil, nounGerman shepherd, noungestation, noungiant panda, noungibbon, noungiraffe, noungnu, noungoat, noungolden retriever, noungopher, noungorilla, noungregarious, adjectivegreyhound, noungroundhog, nounground squirrel, noungrunt, verbguinea pig, nounhack, nounhackles, nounhairless, adjectivehamster, nounhare, nounhart, nounhaunch, nounhedgehog, nounheifer, nounhen, nounherbivore, nounherd, nounhermit crab, nounhibernate, verbhind, adjectivehind, nounhindquarters, nounhippo, nounhippopotamus, nounhock, nounhog, nounhoof, nounhorned, adjectivehorse, nounhound, nounhowl, verbhump, nounhusky, nounhyaena, nounhybrid, nounhyena, nounibex, nouniguana, nounimpala, nouninbred, adjectiveinbreeding, nouninsectivore, nouninterbreed, verbinvertebrate, nounjackal, nounjackrabbit, nounjaguar, nounjellyfish, nounJersey, nounkangaroo, nounkid, nounkoala, nounkookaburra, nounLabrador, nounlair, nounlamb, nounlemming, nounleopard, nounlion, nounlioness, nounlitter, nounlitter, verblizard, nounllama, nounlonghorn, nounlugworm, nounlynx, nounmale, nounmamba, nounmammal, nounmammary, adjectivemammoth, nounmandible, nounmandrill, nounmane, nounman-eater, nounmare, nounmarmoset, nounmarsupial, nounmarten, nounmastitis, nounmate, nounmate, verbmating, nounmaw, nounmenagerie, nounmew, verbmiaow, verbmice, nounmigrant, nounmilk, verbmimic, verbmimic, nounmink, nounmole, nounmollusc, nounmongoose, nounmongrel, nounmonkey, nounmoo, verbmoose, nounmoult, verbmountain goat, nounmountain lion, nounmouse, nounmule, nounmuskrat, nounmussel, nounmustang, nounmutt, nounmuzzle, nounnag, nounnanny goat, nounnative, adjectivenative, nounnest, nounnewt, nounnocturnal, adjectiveocelot, nounoctopus, nounoffspring, nounoink, interjectionokapi, nounOld English sheepdog, nounomnivore, nounomnivorous, adjectiveopossum, nounorangutang, nounotter, nounox, nounpachyderm, nounpack, nounpad, nounpair, nounpanda, nounpanther, nounparasite, nounparasitic, adjectivepaw, nounpaw, verbpeccary, nounpedigree, adjectivepeke, nounPekinese, nounpelt, nounPersian cat, nounpest, nounpheasant, nounpiebald, adjectivepied, adjectivepig, nounpiggy, nounpiglet, nounpincer, nounpine marten, nounpinto, nounpit bull terrier, nounpit pony, nounplankton, nounplate, nounplatypus, nounpointer, nounpolar bear, nounpolecat, nounpolyp, nounpony, nounpooch, nounpoodle, nounporcupine, nounporker, nounporpoise, nounPortuguese man-of-war, nounpossum, nounpouch, nounprairie dog, nounprance, verbpredation, nounpredator, nounpredatory, adjectiveprehensile, adjectiveprey, nounprickle, nounpride, nounprimate, nounproboscis, nounprocreate, verbprowl, verbpterodactyl, nounpuffin, nounpug, nounpullet, nounpuma, nounpup, nounpurebred, adjectivepurr, verbpussy, nounpython, nounquack, verbquadruped, nounquill, nounrabbit, nounrabbit warren, nounrabid, adjectiveraccoon, nounracoon, nounram, nounrat, nounrattler, nounrattlesnake, nounravening, adjectivereindeer, nounreptile, nounretract, verbretriever, nounrhesus monkey, nounrhino, nounrhinoceros, nounroan, nounrodent, nounroe deer, nounrottweiler, nounruminant, nounruminate, verbrump, nounrunt, nounrut, nounsable, nounsac, nounsalamander, nounsausage dog, nounscavenge, verbschool, nounscorpion, nounseal, nounsea lion, nounseashell, nounsea urchin, nounsemen, nounserpent, nounsetter, nounsex, verbshed, verbsheep, nounsheepdog, nounShetland pony, nounshire horse, nounshrew, nounshrimp, nounSiamese cat, nounsilkworm, nounsimian, adjectivesire, nounskin, nounskunk, nounsloth, nounslug, nounsnail, nounsnake, nounsnakebite, nounsnarl, verbsniffer dog, nounsnout, nounsocial, adjectivesow, nounspaniel, nounspawn, verbspawn, nounsperm whale, nounsponge, nounspoor, nounspore, nounspringbok, nounsquid, nounsquirrel, nounstag, nounstallion, nounstarfish, nounSt Bernard, nounsteed, nounsteer, nounsting, nounstinger, nounstoat, nounstomach, nounstray, adjectivestray, nounstud, nounsucker, nounsuckle, verbsuckling, nounswine, nountadpole, nountail, nountame, adjectivetame, verbtapeworm, nountapir, nounteat, nountentacle, nounterrapin, nounterrier, nounterritorial, adjectiveterritory, nountiger, nountigress, nountoad, nountom, nountomcat, nountooth, nountortoise, nountortoiseshell, nountrumpet, verbtrunk, nountufted, adjectiveturtle, nountusk, nountyrannosaurus, nounudder, nounuterus, nounvampire bat, nounvent, nounvermin, nounvertebrate, nounvicuña, nounviper, nounvivarium, nounvixen, nounvole, nounwag, verbwallaby, nounwallow, verbwalrus, nounwarm-blooded, adjectivewarren, nounwarthog, nounwater buffalo, nounwater rat, nounwater vole, nounweasel, nounweevil, nounwhale, nounwhelk, nounwhelp, nounwhelp, verbwhinny, verbwhippet, nounwhisker, nounwild boar, nounwildcat, nounwildebeest, nounwildfowl, nounwinkle, nounwithers, nounwolf, nounwolfhound, nounwombat, nounwool, nounyak, nounyap, verbyap, nounyearling, nounyelp, nounYorkshire terrier, nounyoung, nounzebra, nounzoologist, nounzoology, nounzygote, noun
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► wallow in self-pity/despair/defeat etc
1wallow in self-pity/despair/defeat etc to seem to enjoy being sad etc, especially because you get sympathy from other people – used to show disapproval: - Ego takes great pleasure in wallowing in self-pity, and defending itself against all charges, whatever the cost to others.
- Look at the criticism for any opportunity to learn from it and to change, without wallowing in self-pity.
- What hope can they have, if they see you slumping about like a filleted herring, wallowing in self-pity?
He’d been feeling sorry for himself, wallowing in self-pity.2if an animal or person wallows, it rolls around in mud, water etc for pleasure or to keep cool: hippos wallowing in the mud3if a ship or boat wallows, it moves with difficulty through a rough sea—wallow noun [countable]