whimper

American  

[hwim-per, wim-] / ˈʰwɪm pər, ˈwɪm- /

verb (used without object)

1. to cry with low, plaintive, broken sounds.

   Synonyms:

   sob, weep, whine

---

verb (used with object)

1. to utter in a whimper.

noun

1. a whimpering cry or sound.

   Synonyms:

   sob, whine

whimper British  

/ ˈwɪmpə /

verb

1. (intr) to cry, sob, or whine softly or intermittently

2. to complain or say (something) in a whining plaintive way

---

noun

1. a soft plaintive whine

Other Word Forms

• unwhimpering adjective
• unwhimperingly adverb
• whimperer noun
• whimpering noun
• whimperingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of whimper

1505–15; obsolete whimp to whine + -er ⁶

Example Sentences

He made a whimpering sound and held his leg with a dramatic flair, as if Danny had wounded him mortally.

From Literature

Then I yelled, “You stupid old tree!” and I kicked its trunk as hard as I could so my foot ached something fierce, but I didn’t even whimper.

From Literature

I laid him belly-down over my forearm and rocked him, and he went from yelling to whimpering, and next thing he was asleep.

From Literature

Churro had been whimpering and quivering for the last hour, and now he threw up.

From Literature

Inside, he heard the black dog whimper, which was somehow ten times scarier than when it barked.

From Literature

Related Words

• moan
• weep