whine

[hwahyn, wahyn]

verb (used without object)

whined, whining 

1. to utter a low, usually nasal, complaining cry or sound, as from uneasiness, discontent, peevishness, etc..

   The puppies were whining from hunger.

   Synonyms: whimper, moan

2. to snivel or complain in a peevish, self-pitying way.

   He is always whining about his problems.

verb (used with object)

whined, whining 

1. to utter with or as if with a whine.

   I whined my litany of complaints.

noun

1. a whining utterance, sound, or tone.

2. a feeble, peevish complaint.

whine

/ waɪn /

noun

1. a long high-pitched plaintive cry or moan

2. a continuous high-pitched sound

3. a peevish complaint, esp one repeated

verb

1. to make a whine or utter in a whine

Other Word Forms

• whiningly adverb
• whiner noun
• whining adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of whine¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English verb whinen “to groan in pain or distress; make animal sounds, whimper, whinny, squeal,” Old English hwīnan (of an arrow) “to whiz, buzz, hum”; cognate with Old Norse hvīna, of imitative origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of whine¹

Old English hwīnan; related to Old Norse hvīna, Swedish hvija to scream

Synonym Study

See complain.

Example Sentences

The Chernihiv city resident spoke in matter-of-fact terms about a night filled with the low whine of Iranian-designed Shahed drones, a sound now being increasingly heard far from the war's front lines.

Read more on BBC

In one ad, he tapped Morgan Spector, the bearded star of the HBO hit “The Gilded Age,” to roast the rich for whining about socialism while chomping on lobster.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Would you prefer for your team to be owned by someone whining about the Dodgers and their payroll, or someone dedicated to beating them?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

On Sept. 20, he let loose a Truth Social post whining that Bondi “can’t delay any longer” in launching nuisance prosecutions against those who previously tried to hold him accountable for alleged crimes.

Read more on Salon

Let’s not whine “They did _______ to us in Europe” or “It’s the Ryder Cup, it’s different.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• gripe 
• moan 
• wail 
• whimper