whimper
Americanverb (used without object)
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whimpers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
whimpered,
past participle, past
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whimpering
present participle
verb (used with object)
-
whimpers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
whimpered,
past participle, past
-
whimpering
present participle
noun
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whimpers
plural
verb
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(intr) to cry, sob, or whine softly or intermittently
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to complain or say (something) in a whining plaintive way
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
whimpersimple
-
whimperssimple
-
have whimperedperfect
-
has whimperedperfect
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am whimperingprogressive
-
are whimperingprogressive
-
is whimperingprogressive
-
have been whimperingperfect progressive
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has been whimperingperfect progressive
Past
-
whimperedsimple
-
had whimperedperfect
-
was whimperingprogressive
-
were whimperingprogressive
-
had been whimperingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of whimper
1505–15; obsolete whimp to whine + -er 6
Explanation
To whimper is to make a low, pitiful whining sound. If you've ever heard a sick puppy cry, you know what it means to whimper. Use the verb whimper to describe the crying you do when you're frightened or in pain. A child with a fever might whimper, or a woman with a terrible migraine headache. It can also be a noun, although in that case the word takes on a bit of a whiny meaning: "The boy gave a whimper when he realized he was only getting one cookie." Whimper is onomatopoeic, or a word that sounds just like what it means.
Vocabulary lists containing whimper
Instead of "Said": Words For Sad Speech
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"My Favorite Chaperone," Vocabulary from the short story
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Similes from Top AP English Exam Novels
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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.
See Examples For:
And yet the victory comes with more of a whimper, given expectations heading into the night.
From Slate ● Aug. 5, 2026
The strange legal saga that torpedoed Jeff Shell’s career at Paramount Skydance has ended with a whimper.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026
We’ll all find out together if that’s a bang or a whimper.
From Barron's ● Jun. 1, 2026
In Mr. Loznitsa’s vision, the waiting room is one place ideals go to die, or at least whimper.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 19, 2026
We headed out together, Tilly left to whimper inside the back door.
From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings
It takes courage to open a new play in the West End without a previous run somewhere else, but “Lyonesse” whimpers where it should roar.
From New York Times ● Oct. 26, 2023
These included grunts, whimpers, laughter, screams, hoos, barks, squeaks, and pant hoots.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2023
The cries of mammalian infants, for example, can be incredibly similar, to the point that white-tailed deer will respond to whimpers whether they're made by marmots, humans or seals.
From Scientific American ● Sep. 22, 2023
Arnold the dog whimpers on his leash as volunteers shout instructions that few seem to hear or heed.
From BBC ● Feb. 18, 2023
“I want to go back to my mom,” Teddy whimpers, and I sigh.
From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison
“When it comes to the actual re-establishment of the business, Sound Transit provides next to nothing,” he said, as babies whimpered behind his office wall at naptime.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 12, 2023
Given that Cleveland whimpered to a 3-8 finish and the Milwaukee Bucks would have been Brooklyn’s first-round opponent if they hadn’t lost Sunday, the Nets should be thanking their lucky stars.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 11, 2022
“We’re off to see the wizard,” Buckley cooed, as the baby whimpered.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 3, 2019
Was it sarcasm I heard in his whimpered response?
From Salon ● Feb. 16, 2019
Thorn whimpered through clenched teeth as he watched the robot approach.
From "The Wild Robot" by Peter Brown
“I think if the dog came out alive, one of them has to be alive as well,” Fajardo said, as Yogi sat next to her whimpering.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
"I am one of the whimpering hounds it seems - it's either Jonathan or Alan I would say," said Sir Stephen earlier in the day.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2025
The host stresses to a whimpering Jenn that in that scene she showed America "what a strong and powerful woman is."
From Salon ● Sep. 4, 2024
In the middle of the night, Franklin started whimpering.
From Slate ● May 2, 2024
Akira was whimpering in his sleep, like he did sometimes.
From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata
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.
