Standard Lemma guide

keening

adj · noun · verb · 4 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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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Sharp, shrill, especially of a sound.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • The keening sound of a dentist's drill sets my teeth on edge.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Intense mournful wailing after a death, often at a funeral or wake.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

An unpleasant wailing sound.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

present participle and gerund of keen

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, gerund, participle, present

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From keen + -ing, from Irish caoin.

Across languages

Translations

4 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: perçant — Sharp, shrill, especially of a sound
  • French: lamentation — Intense mournful wailing
  • German: Totenklage — Intense mournful wailing
  • German: Beklagen des/der Toten — Intense mournful wailing