What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
wailing
Example
The mother's wailing could be heard throughout the entire village. [wailing: noun]
Example
The child was wailing uncontrollably after losing their favorite toy. [wailing: verb]
weeping
Example
She was weeping silently in the corner after receiving the bad news. [weeping: verb]
Example
The sight of the weeping widow broke everyone's heart. [weeping: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Weeping is more commonly used than wailing in everyday language. Weeping is a versatile term that covers a wide range of contexts, while wailing is less common and is typically reserved for more extreme situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between wailing and weeping?
Both wailing and weeping are associated with an emotional and informal tone. However, wailing can be considered more dramatic and less appropriate for formal situations, while weeping can be used in a wider range of contexts and formality levels.
