whistling

American

[hwis-ling, wis-] / ˈʰwɪs lɪŋ, ˈwɪs- /

noun

the act of a person or thing that whistles.
the sound produced.
Veterinary Pathology. a form of roaring characterized by a peculiarly shrill sound.

whistling British

/ ˈwɪslɪŋ /

noun

vet science a breathing defect of horses characterized by a high-pitched sound with each intake of air Compare roaring

"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

Etymology

Origin of whistling

before 900; Middle English; Old English hwistlung. See whistle, -ing ¹

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.

At the same time, they create a high pitched sound by whistling inside the larynx.

From Science Daily • Feb. 25, 2026

Her husband, Joseph Hougebe, remembers whistling into the night, eagerly waiting to hear a paddle tapping against the hull of a dugout canoe -- coded signals in the darkness.

From Barron's • Feb. 12, 2026

Sánchez heard a whistling sound pass above him, and 10 more after that.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 6, 2025

“People are sort of whistling past the graveyard of some real risks out there for the economy,” said Dean Smith, chief strategist at FolioBeyond.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 27, 2025

Most of the mmoatia fall into the sinking sands, whistling and clamoring for freedom.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023