noun
groan
GROHN
noun
1
A low, drawn-out sound made when someone is in pain, upset, or annoyed.
"He let out a groan as he stood up with his bad back."
"A groan spread through the office when the meeting was extended."
verb
1
To make this kind of low, unhappy sound.
"She groaned when she saw the size of the pile of homework."
"The old floorboards groaned under his weight."
How to Use Groan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA low sound of pain, frustration, or complaint, or the act of making one.
Common pairings
groan in pain
groan with frustration
the floor groaned
Word Forms
groaned past tense, groans plural, groans singular
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He let out a _____ as he stood up with his bad back.
Etymology
From Old English granian, "to groan or lament," part of a group of Germanic words meaning "to whine or howl."