whine

[ wahyn, hwahyn ]

verb (used without object)

, whined, whin·ing.

1. to utter a low, usually nasal, complaining cry or sound, as from uneasiness, discontent, peevishness, etc.:

   The puppies were whining from hunger.

   Synonyms: moan, whimper

2. to snivel or complain in a peevish, self-pitying way:

   He is always whining about his problems.

verb (used with object)

, whined, whin·ing.

1. to utter with or as if with a whine:

   I whined my litany of complaints.

noun

1. a whining utterance, sound, or tone.
2. a feeble, peevish complaint.

whine

/ waɪn /

noun

1. a long high-pitched plaintive cry or moan
2. a continuous high-pitched sound
3. a peevish complaint, esp one repeated

verb

1. to make a whine or utter in a whine

Derived Forms

• ˈwhiningly, adverb
• ˈwhiner, noun
• ˈwhining, adjective

Other Words From

• whin·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of whine¹

First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English verb whinen “to groan in pain or distress; make animal sounds, whimper, whinny, squeal,” Old English hwīnan (of an arrow) “to whiz, buzz, hum”; cognate with Old Norse hvīna, of imitative origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of whine¹

Old English hwīnan; related to Old Norse hvīna, Swedish hvija to scream

Synonym Study

See complain.

Example Sentences

She was watching a cartoon of animated chickens singing, difficult to hear because of the ominous whine of an Israeli drone overhead.

From BBC

Billionaires will no doubt whine that such a tax is unfair and extortionate; it could reduce some billionaires’ wealth, for example, from $10 billion all the way down to $9.8 billion one year and around $9.6 billion the next.

From Slate

“Winners never back down from a challenge. Champions know it’s anytime, anyplace. But losers, they whine and waffle and take their ball home,” the narrator says at the start of the spot, over images of a football game and washed-out footage of Trump missing a golf putt.

From Salon

Vance's tendency to whine ad nauseam has not gone unnoticed.

From Salon

And it was something that I might whine about having again but secretly I’d always love eating it, which is sort of how it is with my daughter today.

From Salon

Related Words

• gripe
• moan
• wail
• whimper