Showing results for "whistle"

SEE ALSO:

Slang dictionary results for whistle.

whistle

American  

[wis-uhl, hwis-] / ˈwɪs əl, ˈʰwɪs- /

verb (used without object)

• whistles,
  present (3rd person singular)
• whistled,
  past participle,  past
• whistling
  present participle

1. to make a clear musical sound, a series of such sounds, or a high-pitched, warbling sound by the forcible expulsion of the breath through a small opening formed by contracting the lips, or through the teeth, with the aid of the tongue.

2. to make such a sound or series of sounds otherwise, as by blowing on some device.

3. to emit similar sounds from the mouth, as birds do.

4. (of a device) to produce a similar sound when actuated by steam or the like.

   This teakettle whistles when it boils.

5. to move, go, pass, etc., with a whistling or whizzing sound, as a bullet or the wind.

---

verb (used with object)

• whistles,
  present (3rd person singular)
• whistled,
  past participle,  past
• whistling
  present participle

1. to produce by whistling.

   to whistle a tune.

2. to call, direct, or signal by or as by whistling.

   He whistled his dog over.

3. to send with a whistling or whizzing sound.

noun

• whistles
  plural

1. an instrument for producing whistling sounds by means of the breath, steam, etc., as a small wooden or tin tube, a pipe, or a similar device with an air chamber containing a small ball that oscillates when air is forced through an opening, producing a high-pitched, warbling tone.

2. a sound produced by whistling.

   a prolonged whistle of astonishment.

3. a simple fipple flute.

verb phrase

1. whistle for to demand or expect without success.

   After promising to pay, he told us we could whistle for our money.

idioms

1. whistle in the dark, to attempt to summon up one's courage or optimism in a difficult situation.

   He says his business will improve next year, but he's probably just whistling in the dark.

2. wet one's whistle, to take a drink.

3. whistle past the graveyard. see whistle past the graveyard.

4. blow the whistle on,

   1. to bring a stop to; halt.

      Congress has blown the whistle on all unnecessary expenditures for the program.

   2. to expose (wrongdoing or wrongdoers).

      to blow the whistle on corruption in high places.

5. blow the whistle, to expose the existence of mischief or wrongdoing.

   The agent was taking bribes until someone finally blew the whistle.

whistle British  

/ ˈwɪsəl /

verb

1. to produce (shrill or flutelike musical sounds), as by passing breath through a narrow constriction most easily formed by the pursed lips

   he whistled a melody

2. (tr) to signal, summon, or command by whistling or blowing a whistle

   the referee whistled the end of the game

3. (of a kettle, train, etc) to produce (a shrill sound) caused by the emission of steam through a small aperture

4. (intr) to move with a whistling sound caused by rapid passage through the air

5. (of animals, esp birds) to emit (a shrill sound) resembling human whistling

6. to try to keep up one's confidence in spite of fear

---

noun

1. a device for making a shrill high-pitched sound by means of air or steam under pressure

2. a shrill sound effected by whistling

3. a whistling sound, as of a bird, bullet, the wind, etc

4. a signal, warning, command, etc, transmitted by or as if by a whistle

5. the act of whistling

6. music any pipe that is blown down its end and produces sounds on the principle of a flue pipe, usually having as a mouthpiece a fipple cut in the side

7. informal to take an alcoholic drink

8. informal (usually foll by on)

   1. to inform (on)

   2. to bring a stop (to)

whistle More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing whistle

• blow the whistle on
• clean as a whistle
• slick as a whistle
• wet one's whistle

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• interwhistle
  verb (used with object)
• unwhistled
  adjective
• whistleable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• whistles
  plural

Participles

• whistling
  present
• whistled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• whistle
  simple
• whistles
  simple
• have whistled
  perfect
• has whistled
  perfect
• am whistling
  progressive
• are whistling
  progressive
• is whistling
  progressive
• have been whistling
  perfect progressive
• has been whistling
  perfect progressive

Past

• whistled
  simple
• had whistled
  perfect
• was whistling
  progressive
• were whistling
  progressive
• had been whistling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will whistle
  simple
• will have whistled
  perfect
• will be whistling
  progressive
• will have been whistling
  perfect progressive

---

Etymology

Origin of whistle

First recorded before 950; (verb) Middle English whistlen, Old English hwistlian; akin to Old Norse hvīsla “to whistle,” hviskra “to whisper”; see whine; (noun) Middle English; Old English hwistle “instrument,” akin to the verb

---

Explanation

A whistle is a small wind instrument, and you probably know people who are good at whistling without an instrument. Trains have whistles, and the wind whistles too. The world is full of whistles. Whistle is a word with several meanings, but they have in common a similar high-pitched, airy sound. This is different from most instruments. You can't tuba without a tuba, but you can whistle without a whistle. Sometimes people's teeth make a whistling sound by accident. Referees and traffic cops carry whistles to get people's attention. Other people whistle for many reasons: because they're impressed, see something they like, or just want to say, "Hey you!"

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

whistle whistles whistled whistling

However, the Al-Nassr forward did not feature in Portugal's 2-1 win over Norway in Olso on Sunday and did not join his team-mates in going over to the visiting fans at the final whistle.

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

At the final whistle, the commentator covering the match for Israeli television vowed "you will tell of this night to your children, and they will tell it to your grandchildren".

From BBC ● Sep. 17, 2026

You don’t want to blow the whistle on this VP because you believe that will jeopardize your investment.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 14, 2026

Like Rhoa said, they have to move on to the next play right when the whistle blows.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

The policeman let out a whistle as he looked at the list.

From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler

But increasingly so have whistles and boos during his performances.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026

Secular Israelis were prepared with a counter-protest, blowing whistles to drown out the chants and with some wearing pink lapel buttons showing a middle finger.

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026

In other words, people may think they want trendy appliances, but they sometimes have lots of bells and whistles they don’t end up using.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 1, 2026

We have to stop adding digital bells and whistles and instead design fixtures that people—especially older people—can use safely.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 22, 2026

I listened to the train whistles scream as they pulled out of Przemyśl, and again I broke my promise to Helena.

From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron

Wilson was pushed into Hill by Dolphins running back Ollie Gordon II midway through the first quarter after a play was whistled dead because of a Minnesota penalty.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

On a play that was whistled dead because of a neutral zone infraction, Vikings linebacker Eric Wilson appeared to be shoved into referee Adrian Hill, who was knocked to the ground.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 5, 2026

Weeks earlier, he had whistled for the birthday party of chief of staff Andy Card, who then told President George W. Bush about it.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 3, 2026

"I whistled it because we were making a cowboy song and I wanted the drop to not be my vocal."

From BBC ● Apr. 15, 2026

Whhhooo’s there? whistled the wind over the trees and rocks.

From "A Girl Named Disaster" by Nancy Farmer

But that kind of optimism can quickly start to sound more like whistling past the graveyard.

From Slate ● Oct. 8, 2026

He said he wakes up to the sounds of black-bellied whistling ducks every morning.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 25, 2026

Blume's speech was repeatedly interrupted by jeering and whistling, a person present at the meeting told AFP, and workers held aloft signs saying: "Don't balance your books with our jobs".

From Barron's ● Aug. 25, 2026

Newer cars and trucks employ opposite frequency technology, which lowers road noise, silicone-based coating on door seals that cuts virtually all high-frequency whistling, and noise-dampening designs on windows, to name a few technologies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

He woke with a heavy head to the sounds of Marlie heaping earth on the fire and Allun whistling.

From "Rowan of Rin" by Emily Rodda

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

• blare
• hiss

---