whine
[ hwahyn, wahyn ]
/ ʰwaɪn, waɪn /
Save This Word!
verb (used without object), whined, whin·ing.
to utter a low, usually nasal, complaining cry or sound, as from uneasiness, discontent, peevishness, etc.: The puppies were whining from hunger.
to snivel or complain in a peevish, self-pitying way: He is always whining about his problems.
verb (used with object), whined, whin·ing.
to utter with or as if with a whine: I whined my litany of complaints.
noun
a whining utterance, sound, or tone.
a feeble, peevish complaint.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON “ITS” VS. “IT’S”!
Apostrophes can be tricky; prove you know the difference between it’s and its in this crafty quiz!
Question 1 of 12
On the farm, the feed for chicks is significantly different from the roosters’; ______ not even comparable.
Origin of whine
First recorded before 1150; Middle English whinen (verb), Old English hwīnan “to whiz”; cognate with Old Norse hvīna
synonym study for whine
2. See complain.
OTHER WORDS FROM whine
whin·er, nounwhin·ing·ly, adverbun·whin·ing, adjectiveun·whin·ing·ly, adverbWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH whine
wine, whineDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for whine
Why Do “Left” And “Right” Mean Liberal And Conservative?
“Affect” vs. “Effect”: Use The Correct Word Every Time
“Vaccinate” vs. “Inoculate” vs. “Immunize”: What Are The Differences?
What Is The Difference Between “It’s” And “Its”?
“Effectiveness” vs. “Efficacy” vs. “Efficiency”: When To Use Each Word For The Best Results
Where Does The Name “Saturday” Come From?
British Dictionary definitions for whine
whine
/ (waɪn) /
noun
a long high-pitched plaintive cry or moan
a continuous high-pitched sound
a peevish complaint, esp one repeated
verb
to make a whine or utter in a whine
Derived forms of whine
whiner, nounwhining, adjectivewhiningly, adverbWord Origin for whine
Old English hwīnan; related to Old Norse hvīna, Swedish hvija to scream
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012