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Growling Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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growling

growl-ing

🇺🇸 /ˈɡɹoʊɫɪŋ/ · 🇬🇧 /ɡɹˈaʊlɪŋ/

Definitions

Context #1 | Verb

animal sounds

Growling is the low, guttural sound that a dog or other animal makes when it is angry or threatening.

Synonyms

grumble, roar, snarl.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
growling

This word is often used to describe the low, threatening sound made by animals, especially dogs, when they are angry or warning others to stay away. It can also describe a similar, low sound made by a person's stomach when they are hungry.

  • The dog was growling at the stranger, warning him not to come any closer.
  • Her stomach started growling in the middle of the meeting, making her feel embarrassed.
snarl

This refers to a threatening or angry noise or sound, often gutteral, made by animals, particularly dogs or wolves. People can also snarl to show anger or aggression, often showing their teeth.

  • The wolf let out a menacing snarl as it confronted its enemy.
  • He snarled at the driver who cut him off in traffic, clearly irritated.
grumble

This is used to describe a quieter, often continuous complaint or expression of dissatisfaction. It can be used for people who are unhappy about something but not vocally angry.

  • The employees were grumbling about the new work schedule changes.
  • He tends to grumble when he has to do chores around the house.
roar

This word indicates a very loud, powerful noise, usually made by a lion or other big animals. It can also be used to describe a person talking or laughing very loudly.

  • The lion's roar could be heard throughout the jungle.
  • His roar of laughter filled the room when he heard the joke.

Examples of usage

  • The dog started growling at the stranger approaching the house.
  • The bear let out a deep growl to warn the hiker to stay away.
Context #2 | Noun

stomach sounds

Growling is the noise your stomach makes when you are hungry.

Synonyms

grumble, gurgle, rumble.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
growling

This term is often used to describe the low, threatening sound made by animals, especially dogs, when they are angry or feel threatened. It can also describe a person's stomach making noise when they are hungry.

  • The dog started growling when it saw the stranger approaching.
  • I knew it was time for lunch when I heard my stomach growling.
rumble

Rumbling refers to a low, continuous sound, which is often deep and resonant. It can describe thunder, traffic, or even a stomach noise but in a less intense way than growling.

  • The distant rumble of thunder signaled the approaching storm.
  • I heard a rumble in my stomach as lunchtime approached.
grumble

Grumbling usually refers to a person complaining quietly about something, often in a low voice. It can also describe a low, continuous noise.

  • She started to grumble about the long wait at the doctor's office.
  • The employees grumbled about the new policy changes.
gurgle

This word describes a happy, bubbling sound, often used for the noise a baby makes when they are content. It can also describe the sound of liquid flowing in a swirling motion.

  • The baby gurgled happily as she played with her toys.
  • I could hear the stream gurgle as it flowed over the rocks.

Examples of usage

  • His stomach started growling loudly during the meeting.
  • I heard the growling of her stomach from across the room.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Quick facts about “growling”

Growling is a 2-syllable verb and noun (growl-ing). It is pronounced /ˈɡɹoʊɫɪŋ/ in American English and /ɡɹˈaʊlɪŋ/ in British English. On finesentence.com it has 2 meanings, 6 synonyms, and translations into 21 languages. It ranks #21,355 among the most common English words.

Origin of 'growling'

The word 'growling' originated from the Middle English 'growlen', which meant 'to make a low guttural sound'. It has been used to describe both animal sounds and stomach noises, representing primal instincts and basic bodily functions.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #21,355, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.