bawling

Everyday

1. Crying very loudly, like a baby or an upset child. tree →
2. Shouting loudly and roughly at someone. tree →
3. (informal) «Bawl someone out» means to tell them off angrily (mainly US). tree →

In the lessons

In stories, «bawling» tells the reader that someone is crying noisily and without holding back, or shouting rudely. It is a strong, slightly informal word. Phrases: «bawling your eyes out», «bawling at someone», «bawling baby».

Examples

• The baby was bawling in the back of the car. tree →
• I was bawling my eyes out at the end of the film. tree →
• The coach was bawling orders across the field. tree →
• Stop bawling, you will wake up Grandma! tree →
• We heard the toddler bawling in the supermarket. tree →
• The bawling went on for an hour until he fell asleep. tree →
• The coach bawled him out for being late. (US, informal) tree →
• There was such a bawling and screaming--the Fir Tree alone was silent, and he thought to himself, “Am I not to bawl with the rest? tree →

Note

-ing form of the verb «bawl» (past: bawled). Homophone trap: «bawl» (cry loudly) sounds like «ball» (a round toy) and «bawling» like «balling». Meaning is stronger than «crying» or «sobbing»; «wailing» is similar.