Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [kee-ning]
- /ˈki nɪŋ/
- /kiːn/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [kee-ning]
- /ˈki nɪŋ/
Definitions of keening word
- noun keening a wailing lament for the dead. 1
- verb without object keening to wail in lamentation for the dead. 1
- verb with object keening to mourn for by or with such keening or wailing: keening his mother while kneeling at her grave. 1
- noun keening Sharp, shrill, especially of a sound. 1
- noun keening Intense mournful wailing after a death, often at a funeral or wake. 0
- noun keening (by extension) An unpleasant sound. 0
Information block about the term
Origin of keening
First appearance:
before 1875 One of the 25% newest English words
First recorded in 1875-80; keen2 + -ing1
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Keening
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
keening popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 77% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
keening usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for keening
noun keening
- howl — to utter a loud, prolonged, mournful cry, as that of a dog or wolf.
- lament — to feel or express sorrow or regret for: to lament his absence.
- sob — to weep with a convulsive catching of the breath.
- bawl — If you bawl, you shout in a very loud voice, for example because you are angry or you want people to hear you.
- bawling — to cry or wail lustily.
verb keening
- break down — If a machine or a vehicle breaks down, it stops working.
- complain — to make an accusation; bring a formal charge
- fret — to feel or express worry, annoyance, discontent, or the like: Fretting about the lost ring isn't going to help.
- grieve — to feel grief or great sorrow: She has grieved over his death for nearly three years.
- sigh — to let out one's breath audibly, as from sorrow, weariness, or relief.
Antonyms for keening
noun keening
- celebration — A celebration is a special enjoyable event that people organize because something pleasant has happened or because it is someone's birthday or anniversary.
- enjoyment — The state or process of taking pleasure in something.
- praise — the act of expressing approval or admiration; commendation; laudation.
- light — a light product, as a beer or cigarette.
- lightness — the state or quality of being light or illuminated.
verb keening
- please — (used as a polite addition to requests, commands, etc.) if you would be so obliging; kindly: Please come here. Will you please turn the radio off?
- delight — Delight is a feeling of very great pleasure.
- gloat — to look at or think about with great or excessive, often smug or malicious, satisfaction: The opposing team gloated over our bad luck.
- approve — If you approve of an action, event, or suggestion, you like it or are pleased about it.
- refuse — to decline to accept (something offered): to refuse an award.
Top questions with keening
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See also
Matching words
- Words starting with k
- Words starting with ke
- Words starting with kee
- Words starting with keen
- Words starting with keeni
- Words starting with keenin
- Words starting with keening