bleated; bleating; bleats
1
a
: to make the natural cry of a sheep or goat
also
: to utter a similar sound
b
: whimper
2
a
: to talk complainingly or with a whine
b
: blather
: to utter in a bleating manner
bleater
noun
1
: the cry of a sheep or goat
also
: a similar sound
the bleat of a cell phone
2
: a feeble outcry, protest, or complaint
Synonyms
Examples of bleat in a Sentence
Verb
The lamb bleated as I approached.
“But why can't I go?” she bleated.
The labor union is always bleating about the management.
Noun
a very patient, understanding person who accepts life's inconveniences without a bleat
Recent Examples on the Web
Tim Ecott, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 May 2023
Danielle Brooks asks, speaking for all of us after a pink sheep bleats a greeting.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2024
Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 24 Oct. 2024
While does and young deer utter a sheep-like bleat to communicate with each other, this sound is relatively quiet; under most conditions, these sounds are audible from only a short distance.
—Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 28 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for bleat 
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Verb
Their bleating cry is as much the music of these green mountains as the shrill call of the oystercatchers, the Faroes' noisy national bird.
—Tim Ecott, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 May 2023
Danielle Brooks asks, speaking for all of us after a pink sheep bleats a greeting.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2024
Noun
Use calls, such as bleats, grunts, snort-wheezes, grunt-snort-wheezes, and more.
—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 24 Oct. 2024
While does and young deer utter a sheep-like bleat to communicate with each other, this sound is relatively quiet; under most conditions, these sounds are audible from only a short distance.
—Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 28 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for bleat
Dictionary Entries Near bleat
Cite this Entry
“Bleat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bleat. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bleat
1 of 2 verb1
: to utter a bleat or similar sound
2
: to speak in a bleating way
bleat
2 of 2 noun
: the characteristic cry of a sheep or goat
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