whine

[hwahyn, wahyn]

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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.

Origin of whine

before 1150; Middle English whinen (v.), Old English hwīnan to whiz; cognate with Old Norse hvīna

Related formswhin·er, nounwhin·ing·ly, adverbun·whin·ing, adjectiveun·whin·ing·ly, adverb

Can be confusedwine whine

Synonyms for whine

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR whine ON THESAURUS.COM

1. moan, whimper.

Synonym study

2. See complain.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for whined

moan, grumble, wail, sob, bellyache, grouse, pule, carp, whimper, gripe, drone, repine, snivel, kick, murmur, yowl, howl, fuss, mewl

Examples from the Web for whined

Contemporary Examples of whined

An hour later another outcast approached and whined his story.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show
Robert W. Chambers
February 20, 2014
Michael Sam has one big advantage over the aging NFL execs who whined to SI.
Michael Sam Is Not a ‘Distraction’
Dave Cullen
February 12, 2014
In the latest episode of Kourtney and Kim Take Miami, Kardashian whined about West receiving public blame for her bad outfits.
Is Sheryl Sandberg Dodging The Fashion Question?; Vera Wang Charges Dress Try-On Fee
The Fashion Beast Team
March 25, 2013
Instead of taking the president's jokes with good grace, you fled the hotel ballroom in a huff and whined.
Donald Trump’s Latest Challenge to Obama Renders Him Irrelevant
Lloyd Grove
October 24, 2012
In his New Hampshire victory speech Romney whined that President Obama “divides us with the bitter politics of envy.”
To Romney, Detractors Suffer From Envy
Kirsten Powers
January 13, 2012

Historical Examples of whined

The last words of his speech he whined out in a lackadaisical tone.
Weighed and Wanting
George MacDonald
The latter regarded him wistfully, started away, then returned and whined softly.
White Fang
Jack London
He whined pleadingly, and scurried playfully in and out of the underbrush.
White Fang
Jack London
It whined unsteadily a few moments then broke off completely.
The Second Voice
Mann Rubin
"And that's how I'm fixed," whined Squeaking Henry in conclusion.
Old Man Curry
Charles E. (Charles Emmett) Van Loan

British Dictionary definitions for whined

whine

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 Formswhiner, nounwhining, adjectivewhiningly, adverb

Word 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

Word Origin and History for whined

whine

1630s, from whine (v.).

whine

Old English hwinan "to whiz or whistle through the air" (only of arrows), also hwinsian "to whine" (of dogs), ultimately of imitative origin (cf. Old Norse hvina "to whiz," German wiehern "to neigh"). Meaning "to complain in a feeble way" is first recorded 1520s. Related: Whined; whining.