whining
Americanadjective
-
uttering a nasal, complaining cry, as from peevishness, discontent, uneasiness, etc..
If there’s one sound that makes me want to tear my ears off, it’s the sound of a whining tomcat.
Our daughter has grown from a whining child on the first day of playgroup to one who asks to go even on Saturdays.
-
complaining in a petulant, self-pitying way.
Those whining people who blame everyone and think everyone is against them need to grow up.
-
making or being a drawn-out, high-pitched sound.
In courtship, the male of the white-eyed vireo displays to the female by fluffing its plumage, spreading its tail, and uttering a whining call.
noun
-
the act or habit of crying or complaining in a peevish way.
Can I give you a bit more work today if I have to, and not get any whining from you?
-
the act of making a drawn-out, high-pitched sound.
A few hours later the whining of a chainsaw began.
Other Word Forms
- unwhining adjective
- unwhiningly adverb
- whiningly adverb
Etymology
Origin of whining
First recorded in 1400–50; whin(e) ( def. ) + -ing 2 ( def. ) for the adjective senses; whin(e) ( def. ) + -ing 1 ( def. ) for the noun senses
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That said, my siblings and I got tired of the whining and agreed that she would only have to pay the lesser of $3 million or the appraised price of the house.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 19, 2026
Viorst, who scolds herself and peers for whining too much, says life is too short for hurt feelings.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 31, 2025
Would you prefer for your team to be owned by someone whining about the Dodgers and their payroll, or someone dedicated to beating them?
From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 13, 2025
But their over-the-top whining belies their true understanding.
From Salon • Aug. 24, 2025
But Zeus looked at him sternly and told him he was as intolerable as his mother, and bade him cease his whining.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
