- (prenominal)
(intensifier): a howling success, a howling error
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
howl•ing /ˈhaʊlɪŋ/USA pronunciation adj. [before a noun]
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025- complete;
great;
total:The party was a howling success.
howl /haʊl/USA pronunciation
v.
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- [no object]
- Animal Behavior(of a dog, wolf, or the like) to make a loud, long, mournful cry:The coyote was howling at the moon.
- Animal Behaviorto make a similar cry, as in pain or rage;
wail:She howled as the dentist began to pull the tooth. - to make a sound like an animal howling:The wind howls through the trees.
- to laugh uproariously.
n. [countable]
- Animal Behaviorthe cry of a dog, wolf, or the like.
- Animal Behaviora cry, as of pain or rage.
- a sound like wailing:the howl of the wind.
- a loud outburst;
yell:howls of laughter. - something that causes hilarity.
howl•ing
(hou′ling),USA pronunciation adj.
howl′ing•ly, adv.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- producing or uttering a howling noise:a howling mob.
- desolate, dismal, or dreary:a howling wilderness.
- Informal Termsvery great;
tremendous:a howling success.
- 1250–1300; Middle English houlinge (gerund, gerundive); see howl, -ing2
howl
(houl),USA pronunciation v.i.
v.t.
n.
- Animal Behaviorto utter a loud, prolonged, mournful cry, as that of a dog or wolf.
- Animal Behaviorto utter a similar cry in distress, pain, rage, etc.;
wail. - to make a sound like an animal howling:The wind howls through the trees.
- Informal Termsto go on a spree;
enjoy oneself without restraint.
v.t.
- to utter with howls:to howl the bad news.
- to drive or force by howls (often fol. by down):to howl down the opposition.
n.
- Animal Behaviorthe cry of a dog, wolf, etc.
- Animal Behaviora cry or wail, as of pain, rage, or protest.
- a sound like wailing:the howl of the wind.
- a loud, scornful laugh or yell.
- something that causes a laugh or a scornful yell, as a joke or funny or embarrassing situation.
- 1300–50; Middle English hulen, houlen (verb, verbal); cognate with Dutch huilen, Low German hülen, German heulen, Danish hyle; akin to Old Norse ȳla
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
a long plaintive cry or wail characteristic of a wolf or hound a similar cry of pain or sorrow a prolonged outburst of laughter an unwanted prolonged high-pitched sound produced by a sound-producing system as a result of feedback
to express in a howl or utter such cries - (intransitive)
(of the wind, etc) to make a wailing noise - (intransitive)
to shout or laugh
'howling monkey' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):