Entry 4 senses · 4 variants Webster, 1913 Wail /wāl/ · IPA /weɪl/ v. t. v. t. v. i. n. 01 v. t. To choose; to select. 1. To choose; to select.[Obs.] 02 v. t. To lament; to bewail; to grieve over; as, to wail one's death. imp. & p. p. Wailed; p. pr. & vb. n. Wailing 1. To lament; to bewail; to grieve over; as, to wail one's death. 03 v. i. To express sorrow audibly; to make mournful outcry; to weep. 1. To express sorrow audibly; to make mournful outcry; to weep. “Therefore I will wail and howl.” — Micah i. 8. 04 n. Loud weeping; violent lamentation; wailing. 1. Loud weeping; violent lamentation; wailing.