groan
groan — verb
- groanpresent simple I / you / we / they
- groanshe / she / it
- groanedpast simple
- groaning-ing form
1. to push out a low, drawn-out sound from your throat because you feel hurt, tired
to push out a low, drawn-out sound from your throat because you feel hurt, tired, or unhappy
Omar groaned as the nurse pressed gently on his swollen ankle.
groan + as-clause showing the trigger
Lien groaned in pain after lifting the heavy box of textbooks.
collocation: groan in pain
The whole class groaned when Mr Tariq announced a surprise math test.
Otis rolled over in bed and groaned quietly into his pillow.
Élise groaned softly when she stood up after sitting for three hours.
文法句型
groan (in/with pain)
用法筆記
Often paired with prepositional phrases of cause (in pain, with effort, from tiredness) or with an as/when clause naming the trigger.
常見錯誤
2. to say something in a low, unhappy voice to show that you find a situation annoy
to say something in a low, unhappy voice to show that you find a situation annoying or boring
Stephanie groaned that the meeting had already gone on for two hours.
groan + that-clause for spoken complaint
Drivers always groan about the traffic on the bridge during rush hour.
groan about + noun phrase
'Not pizza again,' Eitan groaned as his mother set the plates down.
Christopher groaned about the price of train tickets all the way home.
The teenagers groaned when Yan suggested cleaning the kitchen before lunch.
文法句型
groan about something
groan that + clause
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense reports speech content (often introduced by 'about' or a that-clause), while sense 1 names a non-verbal sound only.
3. (of a surface, building, or system) to be loaded with so much of something that
(of a surface, building, or system) to be loaded with so much of something that it seems almost unable to hold it — used as a vivid way of saying the amount is huge
The buffet table at the wedding groaned with platters of dumplings and roast duck.
groan with + plural noun showing abundance
Tendai's bookshelves groaned with science fiction novels collected over thirty years.
By December the warehouse shelves were groaning with unsold winter coats.
The market stalls groaned with mangoes, papayas, and bunches of fresh coriander.
- overflow
more literal; suggests visible spilling, while 'groan with' is figurative
- be laden with
near-synonym; slightly more formal and less vivid
- be bare
completely empty; opposite end of the abundance scale
文法句型
groan with something
be groaning under something
用法筆記
Subject is typically a physical container or surface (table, shelf, market, warehouse). The 'with' phrase names what overfills it; without 'with' the sense collapses into sense 1.
常見錯誤
4. to be barely able to keep working or going because a heavy burden — such as debt
to be barely able to keep working or going because a heavy burden — such as debt, demand, or pressure — is weighing the system or person down
Small farms in the valley are groaning under high fuel costs this season.
groan under + abstract burden
The hospital groaned under the weight of new patients during the winter outbreak.
groan under the weight of + noun
Many households in Lagos are groaning under rising electricity bills this year.
Ravindra's department was groaning under months of unanswered customer complaints.
- struggle
neutral; lacks the image of crushing weight
- buckle
stronger; suggests the system is close to collapse
- be overwhelmed
describes the result; 'groan under' emphasises the ongoing strain
- thrive
do very well despite or without burden; the opposite outcome
文法句型
groan under something
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3: sense 3 describes abundance (often positive or neutral); this sense describes hardship caused by excess demand or weight. The preposition shifts from 'with' to 'under'.
常見錯誤
groan — noun
- groansingular
- groansplural
1. a low, drawn-out sound that someone makes through the mouth when they feel hurt,
a low, drawn-out sound that someone makes through the mouth when they feel hurt, tired, or upset
Amelia let out a loud groan when the dentist touched her broken tooth.
let out + a groan
A long groan came from behind the curtain where João was rubbing his shoulder.
a + adjective + groan
Élise answered her phone call with a tired groan and pulled up the blanket.
The boxer gave a deep groan and slid down against the corner ropes.
- laugh
opposite emotional sound; expresses pleasure or amusement
文法句型
a groan of + noun
let out / give a groan
用法筆記
Common collocations are 'a groan of pain / pleasure', 'let out a groan', 'with a groan'. The adjective slot often signals the cause: deep, loud, soft, tired.
2. a short spoken sound or remark that shows you are annoyed or finding a situation
a short spoken sound or remark that shows you are annoyed or finding a situation boring
Brooke greeted the news of overtime with a groan and a roll of her eyes.
with a groan
Constanza's joke was met with a chorus of groans from her younger brothers.
a chorus of groans
Sade let out a groan about Monday traffic before she had even started the car.
James opened the bill from the plumber and let out a long groan of disbelief.
- cheer
opposite reaction; shows enthusiasm or approval
文法句型
a groan about + noun
with a groan
用法筆記
Distinguish from noun sense 1: this sense is about a verbal or near-verbal reaction to something annoying (a bad pun, a chore, a price), not about a sound caused by physical pain.