Wallow: meaning, definitions and examples

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wallow

 

[ หˆwษ’loสŠ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

emotional state

To wallow means to indulge oneself in a particular feeling, often to an excessive degree. This word is usually used in the context of negative emotions, where a person might immerse themselves in sadness or self-pity. The act of wallowing can be seen as unproductive and might prevent individuals from moving on from their feelings. Despite its negative connotation, it can also refer to finding comfort in one's emotions. The nuances of 'wallow' suggest both a physical and emotional immersion.

Synonyms

bathe, immerse, indulge, roll around

Examples of usage

  • She wallowed in her grief after the loss.
  • He tends to wallow in self-doubt.
  • After the breakup, she spent days wallowing in sadness.
Context #2 | Verb

physical action

Wallow can also refer to the act of rolling about or lying relaxed in a particular substance, often mud or water. This behavior is typically associated with animals, such as pigs, who wallow to keep cool or to protect themselves from insects. This physical action can convey a sense of playfulness and joy in certain contexts, contrasting with its emotional usage. The image of an animal wallowing evokes a sense of carefree abandon and enjoyment.

Synonyms

drench, flounder, lie, roll

Examples of usage

  • The pigs wallowed in the mud on a hot day.
  • She watched the dogs wallow in the river.
  • They enjoyed wallowing in the soft sand at the beach.

Translations

Translations of the word "wallow" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น rebolar

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคฒเฅ‹เคŸเคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช suhlen

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ berguling

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฒะฐะปัั‚ะธัั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ tarzaฤ‡ siฤ™

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ่ปขใŒใ‚‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท se vautrer

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ revolcarse

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท yuvarlanmak

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ตฌ๋ฅด๋‹ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุชุฏุญุฑุฌ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ vรกlet se

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ vรกฤพaลฅ sa

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆ‰“ๆปš

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ valjati se

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ rรบlla

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ า›าฑะปะฐัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ’แƒแƒ แƒแƒแƒ‘แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ dรถnmษ™k

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ revolcarse

Word origin

The word 'wallow' originated from Middle English 'walwen', which means 'to roll or toss about'. This term is derived from the Old English 'walwian', which also means to roll or to turn over. The etymological roots trace back to Proto-Germanic *walwลnฤ…, sharing similarities with Old High German 'waltรดn'. Over time, 'wallow' evolved to apply to both physical actions and emotional states, reflecting how individuals might metaphorically immerse themselves in feelings just as animals do in mud or water. Its usage in literature can be traced back as far as the 14th century, capturing the dual sense of indulging in both physical pleasures and emotional states.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #26,541, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.