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
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.
Whining excuse after excuse and blame it on the Astros.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2023
Whining about the financial quagmire the company’s facing and the backlash about the firings, Musk tweeted this: “Regarding Twitter’s reduction in force, unfortunately there is no choice when the company is losing over $4M/day.”
From Washington Post • Nov. 9, 2022
But that was all before the www. – or the World Wide Web – or in some cases, Waves of Windbag Whining.
From US News • Oct. 12, 2016
What does he think 16-year-old Citizen Liddle would make of Selfish, Whining Monkeys.
From The Guardian • Jun. 13, 2014
Whining, he turned and sniffed all the way back again, the leash dragging behind him.
From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret
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.
