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Added 9 October 2026

groaning

/ˈɡɹoʊnɪŋ/ adjective

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about groaning at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

That groans.
Heavily laden, as if to creak under the strain.
We sat down to a groaning table and feasted all evening.

noun

A low sound associated with extended suffering, sorrow, and toil.
Ellipsis of groaning time (“childbirth, labour”).

verb

present participle and gerund of groan

Origin

From Middle English gronynge (“groaning”), from Old English grānung; equivalent to groan + -ing. Conflated with Middle English gronende, present participle of gronen, from Old English grāniende, present participle of grānian (“to groan”). Analyzable as groan + -ing.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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