pule

American  

[pyool] / pjul /

verb (used without object)

puled, puling

1. to cry in a thin voice; whine; whimper.

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pule British  

/ pjuːl /

verb

1. (intr) to cry plaintively; whimper

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Other Word Forms

• puler
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of pule

First recorded in 1525–35; perhaps imitative

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Explanation

To pule is to cry, but not loudly. Puling is weak, soft crying. It's a pathetic sound. Unfortunately, there are many ways to cry. You can bawl, which is loud crying. On the other end of the spectrum, you can pule. When you pule, you're crying weakly at a low volume. When dogs are scared, they often pule. Children sometimes pule when they don't get their way. People pule when they're sad, frightened, heartbroken, or tired. People pule when they don't have the energy to cry louder.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pule puled puling

We pule again, and then we line up to scoop food onto our plates.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

Once everyone is present, Tūtū opens us with a pule, prayer.

From "Clairboyance" by Kristiana Kahakauwila

Here also is another pule hoo-noa, a prayer-song addressed to Laka, an intercession for the lifting of the tabu.

From Unwritten Literature of Hawaii The Sacred Songs of the Hula by Nathaniel Bright Emerson

We had become quite familiar with the native sentence, "E pule kakou"—"Let us pray."

From Scenes in the Hawaiian Islands and California by Mary E. (Mary Evarts) Anderson

Pule aku la o Halaaniani a hiki i ka hapalua o ka manawa; ku ana ua nalu, hoomau aku la oia i ka pule a hiki i ka Amama ana.

From The Hawaiian Romance Of Laieikawai by Martha Warren Beckwith

McGinnis clung to the hearing room door as police puled him away.

From Salon ● Mar. 5, 2026

The user contradicted Optus's claims the breach was "sophisticated", saying they puled the data from a freely accessible software interface.

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2022

A raft rocked angrily as burly men puled on wires to tame it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2015

I've never puled in this world, thank God, and let come what will, I ain't going to begin puling in the next.

From The Deliverance; a romance of the Virginia tobacco fields by Ellen Anderson Gholson Glasgow

The words puled haltingly from lips stiff with fright.

From Connie Morgan in the Fur Country by James B. (James Beardsley) Hendryx

“Some sectors are puling back on hiring intentions because their broader economic outlook is starting to become less rosy or they have industry-specific concerns,” said Nick Bunker, head of research at Indeed’s Hiring Lab.

From Washington Post ● Aug. 2, 2022

Martin lulled Nate Roberts to sleep with a between-your-legs dribble before puling up for a short jumper.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 25, 2021

“I think he got caught and now he’s puling an excuse out from under the bed,” Adams said.

From Washington Times ● May 23, 2020

BST16:14 69 min Coleman drills a long one from right-back towards Walters, puling left.

From The Guardian ● Oct. 11, 2015

Nobody could doubt he spoke the truth; he was already old and wise when the most elderly among them was a blind hairless mite, puling and whimpering for a feed from its mother.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques

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