Standard Lemma guide

bewail

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /bɪˈweɪl/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -eɪl

1

verb

Meaning 1

To wail over; to feel or express deep sorrow for.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: bemoan, grieve, lament, afterthink, becry, begrieve, bemourn, bewail, beweep, condole, deplore, elegize, grieven, keen, mean, mourn, pine, repent, sigh, sorrow, wail, wayment

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

regret strongly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • I deplore this hostile action
  • we lamented the loss of benefits

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: deplore, lament, bemoan

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: complain, kick, plain, sound off, quetch, kvetch

History

Etymology

From Middle English bewailen, equivalent to be- (“over, about”) + wail.

Across languages

Translations

45 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Aromanian: arâbdâsescu — to wail over
  • Aromanian: arâvdâsescu — to wail over
  • Aromanian: butsescu — to wail over
  • Aromanian: jilescu — to wail over
  • Aromanian: miruloyiu — to wail over
  • Aromanian: mirulyisescu — to wail over
  • Aromanian: zghilescu — to wail over
  • Belarusian: апла́кваць (aplákvacʹ) — to wail over
  • Belarusian: апла́каць (aplákacʹ) — to wail over
  • Bulgarian: оплаквам (oplakvam) — to wail over
  • Czech: oplakávat — to wail over
  • Czech: naříkat — to wail over
  • Czech: tesknit — to wail over
  • Danish: begræde — to wail over
  • Dutch: betreuren — to wail over
  • Finnish: surra — to wail over
  • Finnish: itkeä — to wail over
  • Finnish: valittaa — to wail over
  • French: pleurer — to wail over
  • French: déplorer — to wail over
  • German: beklagen — to wail over
  • German: betrauern — to wail over
  • Indonesian: menangisi — to wail over
  • Old Irish: coínid — to wail over
  • Latin: dēfleō — to wail over
  • Latin: lamentor — to wail over
  • Latin: comploro — to wail over
  • Māori: mōteatea — to wail over
  • Māori: uhunga — to wail over
  • Portuguese: lamentar — to wail over
  • Romanian: boci — to wail over
  • Romanian: deplânge — to wail over
  • Romanian: jelui — to wail over
  • Russian: опла́кивать (oplákivatʹ) — to wail over
  • Russian: опла́кать (oplákatʹ) — to wail over
  • Scottish Gaelic: caoidh — to wail over
  • Scottish Gaelic: caoin — to wail over
  • Spanish: lamentar — to wail over
  • Swahili: kuombolezea — to wail over
  • Tocharian B: pälw- — to wail over
  • Tocharian B: tränk- — to wail over
  • Turkish: ağlamak — to wail over
  • Ukrainian: опла́кувати (oplákuvaty) — to wail over
  • Ukrainian: опла́кати (oplákaty) — to wail over
  • Woiwurrung: marroen — to wail over