whine

[ wahyn, hwahyn ]
See synonyms for whine on Thesaurus.com
verb (used without object),whined, whin·ing.
  1. to utter a low, usually nasal, complaining cry or sound, as from uneasiness, discontent, peevishness, etc.: The puppies were whining from hunger.

  2. to snivel or complain in a peevish, self-pitying way: He is always whining about his problems.

verb (used with object),whined, whin·ing.
  1. to utter with or as if with a whine: I whined my litany of complaints.

noun
  1. a whining utterance, sound, or tone.

  2. a feeble, peevish complaint.

Origin of whine

1
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English verb whinen “to groan in pain or distress; make animal sounds, whimper, whinny, squeal,” Old English hwīnan (of an arrow) “to whiz, buzz, hum”; cognate with Old Norse hvīna, of imitative origin

synonym study For whine

2. See complain.

Other words for whine

Other words from whine

  • whin·er, noun

Words that may be confused with whine

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use whine in a sentence

  • I dont see why you cant let me be comfortable, whined Sue; every thing would be lovely if you didnt spoil it all.

    Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline | Jennie M. Drinkwater
  • Even the children were not whimpering, the tawdry women were not hysterical, not a parrot raised his voice nor a dog whined.

    Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
  • Two were slow in obeying, and those she struck across the face with a small whip, till they whined with pain.

    Tiger Cat | David H. Keller
  • "We never knowed it war you," whined the other carefully lengthening the distance between the big man on the doorstep and himself.

    The Shepherd of the Hills | Harold Bell Wright
  • She struggled in vain to free herself, while Toto whined and trembled beside her, for the little dog was frightened, too.

British Dictionary definitions for whine

whine

/ (waɪn) /


noun
  1. a long high-pitched plaintive cry or moan

  2. a continuous high-pitched sound

  1. a peevish complaint, esp one repeated

verb
  1. to make a whine or utter in a whine

Origin of whine

1
Old English hwīnan; related to Old Norse hvīna, Swedish hvija to scream

Derived forms of whine

  • whiner, noun
  • whining, adjective
  • whiningly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012