What does crowing mean?
Crowing refers to two related things: the loud, shrill cry made by a cock, traditionally associated with daybreak, and, by extension from that image of triumphant noise, the act of boasting openly about one's own achievements. The word functions as both noun and verb: a person may be accused of 'crowing' when they celebrate success too gleefully, particularly when it comes at someone else's expense. In this figurative use it carries a distinctly negative connotation of smugness and gloating, as in phrases like 'crowing over a defeated rival'. The literal sense evokes rural life, farms, and the traditional notion of the rooster heralding the dawn, though it survives mostly in literary or nostalgic contexts today. The word's dual character makes it useful for describing behaviour that straddles celebration and bad grace, capturing precisely the moment when justified pride tips into unseemly self-satisfaction.
To make the loud shrill cry characteristic of a cock; to utter a similar exultant sound; to boast triumphantly.
"He spent the whole evening crowing about his team's victory."
Often used pejoratively to suggest excessive self-congratulation.
The cry of a cock, especially at dawn, or an instance of boastful exultation.
"The crowing of distant roosters announced the coming morning."
Rarely used; the singular form usually suffices even when referring to repeated instances.
"The crowings of the farmyard cocks marked each break of day."
The same word that describes a rooster's dawn call also describes your friend who won't stop gloating — because both go back to the bird's proud, triumphant cry.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of crowing
The word derives ultimately from Old English 'crawan', meaning to crow like a cock. The literal sense of a cock's cry is ancient, but the figurative sense of human boasting developed by analogy with the bird's triumphant-sounding call, appearing by the early Middle English period. It is cognate with other Germanic words for the cock's cry, such as Dutch 'kraaien' and German 'kraehen'.
Related word forms
How crowing is actually used
Figurative use often carries a negative connotation, implying smugness or poor sportsmanship; 'crowing over' someone suggests gloating at their misfortune. The literal sense referring to a cock's cry is somewhat literary or rural in modern usage.
Easily confused with crowing
Crooning means singing in a soft, low voice, while crowing means either the cry of a rooster or boastful exultation.