moan
verb /məʊn/
/məʊn/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they moan | /məʊn/ /məʊn/ |
| he / she / it moans | /məʊnz/ /məʊnz/ |
| past simple moaned | /məʊnd/ /məʊnd/ |
| past participle moaned | /məʊnd/ /məʊnd/ |
| -ing form moaning | /ˈməʊnɪŋ/ /ˈməʊnɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] (of a person) to make a long deep sound, usually because you are unhappy or suffering or are experiencing sexual pleasure synonym groan
- The injured man was lying on the ground, moaning.
- moan in/with something to moan in/with pain
- + speech ‘I might never see you again,’ she moaned.
Extra Examples- He moaned in despair.
- She was still conscious and was moaning loudly with pain.
- He moaned with sheer pleasure.
- Most of the patients were moaning in pain.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- loudly
- lightly
- quietly
- …
- in
- with
- [intransitive, transitive] moan (at somebody) (informal) to complain about something in a way that other people find annoying synonym grumble, whine
- moan (on) (about something) (to somebody) What are you moaning on about now?
- moan (at somebody) (about something) They're always moaning and groaning about how much they have to do.
- moan that… Bella moaned that her feet were cold.
Synonyms complaincomplain- protest
- object
- grumble
- moan
- whine
- complain to say that you are annoyed, unhappy or not satisfied about somebody/something:
- I’m going to complain to the manager about this.
- protest to say or do something to show that you disagree with something or think it is bad, especially publicly; to give something as a reason for protesting:
- Students took to the streets to protest against the decision.
- object to say that you disagree with something or think it is bad; to give something as a reason for objecting:
- If nobody objects, we’ll postpone the meeting till next week.
- He objected that the police had arrested him without sufficient evidence.
- grumble (rather informal, disapproving) to complain about somebody/something, especially something that is not really very serious:
- They kept grumbling that they were cold.
- moan (British English, rather informal, disapproving) to complain about somebody/something in an annoying way:
- What are you moaning about now?
- whine (rather informal, disapproving) to complain in an annoying, crying voice:
- Stop whining!
- ‘I want to go home,’ whined Toby.
- to complain/protest/grumble/moan/whine about something
- to complain/protest/grumble/moan at something
- to complain/protest/object/grumble/moan/whine to somebody
- to complain/protest/object/grumble/moan/whine that…
Extra ExamplesTopics Personal qualitiesc1- My parents moan at me if I'm home late.
- She's always moaning to me that she doesn't have enough money.
- The children climbed into the bus, moaning and groaning.
- They kept moaning on about their illnesses.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- on
- about
- at
- to
- …
- moan and groan
- [intransitive] (literary) (especially of the wind) to make a long deep sound
- The wind was moaning through the trees.
- The wind moaned gently through the trees.
Word OriginMiddle English (in the sense ‘complaint ’or‘ lamentation’): of unknown origin.