whimper
Americanverb (used without object)
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whimpers,
present (3rd person singular)
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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
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whimpersimple
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whimperssimple
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have whimperedperfect
-
has whimperedperfect
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am whimperingprogressive
-
are whimperingprogressive
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is whimperingprogressive
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have been whimperingperfect progressive
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has been whimperingperfect progressive
Past
-
whimperedsimple
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had whimperedperfect
-
was whimperingprogressive
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were whimperingprogressive
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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:
European and domestic losses got the 2026-27 campaign off to a whimper but Vrancken stayed calm and believes his team are now reaping deserved benefits.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
And yet the victory comes with more of a whimper, given expectations heading into the night.
From Slate ● Aug. 5, 2026
Alas, Krypto the pup is sidelined early on with a whimper, both from him and us.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026
Manias often peak on good news, though, and they generally go out with a bang, not a whimper.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026
It was thin and wet, and was complaining softly to itself in a low, continuous whimper.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Earlier this month, a Gardena police officer responded to a report that there were whimpers and cries coming from a self-compacting trash can outside a local church.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 31, 2025
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
“We worried you were burned in the fire, but we hoped you were long gone before it started,” he whimpers.
From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz
Babies with tubes in their noses whimpered quietly in their mothers' arms.
From BBC ● Apr. 12, 2024
“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
Williams Mbengue whimpered and lost her voice when she was informed of Goldstein’s death in a call with The Post.
From Washington Post ● Jul. 5, 2022
“We’re off to see the wizard,” Buckley cooed, as the baby whimpered.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 3, 2019
When he whimpered for Andeg, who sat high up in the roof beams, head underneath his wing.
From "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich
“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
She was crying quietly while we talked, one of those whimpering meltdowns that kids have without actually screaming.
From Slate ● Nov. 5, 2025
"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
“I look out the kitchen window and all I see are flames. There were dogs in the back, from the neighbors in the back, that were whimpering and crying.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 28, 2023
Rowdy was sitting in the spring seat, looking at us, whimpering and whining.
From "Summer of the Monkeys" by Wilson Rawls
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.
