- crying or wailing lustily: On one of our trips we were kept awake most of the night by a bawling kid—and that kid was you!The mooing, bawling calf seemed to be an orphan.
- shouting loudly, especially to be heard outdoors, over other noise, or by a large group: He’s doing his basic training under a bawling drill sergeant who screams orders at the recruits.
- the act of crying, wailing, or shouting: After recess I have to put up with the bawling of kids at each other across the classroom, still arguing about playtime disputes.
