whined; whining
1
a
: to utter a high-pitched plaintive or distressed cry
b
: to make a sound similar to such a cry
the wind whined in the chimney
2
: to complain with or as if with a whine
always whining about the weather
3
: to move or proceed with the sound of a whine
the bullet whined … across the ice—
Berton Roueché
Berton Roueché
: to utter or express with or as if with a whine
whiner
noun
1
a
: a prolonged high-pitched cry usually expressive of distress or pain
b
: a sound resembling such a cry
2
: a complaint uttered with or as if with a whine
Synonyms
Examples of whine in a Sentence
Verb
He's always whining about the weather.
Quit whining and finish your dinner.
“I want to leave now,” she whined.
The workers were whining that the office was too cold.
The dog was whining because it wanted to go out.
The electric saw whined as it cut through the wood.
Noun
the whine of a jet engine
the perennial whine that movies aren't as good as they used to be
Recent Examples on the Web
Seth Borenstein, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2024
The video shows Daisy standing and staring out the window, whining and panting as a shelter member tries to comfort her.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 10 Aug. 2024
Mamet is the series’ comic highlight, ping-ponging between tantrums, whines and sickly-sweet pleas with the volatility of an overgrown toddler; Jackson’s Misia receives these outbursts with an obeisance that is eventually pushed to the point of breaking.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for whine 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Advertisement Residents, government officials and experts say the town is a model for coping with dramatic shifts and attribute it to the rural mindset that focuses on fixing, not whining.
—Seth Borenstein, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2024
The video shows Daisy standing and staring out the window, whining and panting as a shelter member tries to comfort her.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
Reports of this plan were toasted by professional cynics with a similar whine.
—Bob Raissman, New York Daily News, 10 Aug. 2024
Mamet is the series’ comic highlight, ping-ponging between tantrums, whines and sickly-sweet pleas with the volatility of an overgrown toddler; Jackson’s Misia receives these outbursts with an obeisance that is eventually pushed to the point of breaking.
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for whine
Dictionary Entries Near whine
Cite this Entry
“Whine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whine. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
whine
1 of 2 verb
ˈhwīn 
ˈwīn
whined; whining
1
: to make a shrill troubled cry or a similar sound
a child whining
the electric saw whined as it cut the wood
2
: to complain with or as if with a whine
always whining about his chores
whiner
noun
whine
2 of 2 noun1
: a whining cry or sound
2
: a complaint uttered with or as if with a whine
whiny
adjective
ˈhwi-nē
ˈwī-
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share