Definition of 'whine'
Word forms: whines, whining, whined
1. intransitive verb
If something or someone whines, they make a long, high-pitched noise, especially one that sounds sad or unpleasant.
2. transitive verb/intransitive verb
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word Frequency
whine in American English
verb intransitiveWord forms: whined or ˈwhining
1.
b.
to make a prolonged, high-pitched sound like this
2.
to complain or beg in a childishly undignified way, as with a whine
verb transitive
3.
to utter with or as with a whine
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
whiner (ˈwhiner)
noun
whiningly (ˈwhiningly)
adverb
Word Frequency
whine in American English
(hwain, wain) (verb whined, whining)
intransitive verb
1.
to utter a low, usually nasal, complaining cry or sound, as from uneasiness, discontent, peevishness, etc
The puppies were whining from hunger
transitive verb
3.
to utter with or as if with a whine
I whined my litany of complaints
Most material © 2005, 1997, 1991 by Penguin Random House LLC. Modified entries © 2019
by Penguin Random House LLC and HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Derived forms
whiner noun
whiningly
adverb
Word origin
[bef. 1150; ME whinen (v.), OE hwīnan to whiz; c. ON hvīna]Word Frequency
whine in British English
verb
4.
to make a whine or utter in a whine
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Derived forms
whiner (ˈwhiner) noun
whining (ˈwhining)
adjective
whiningly (ˈwhiningly)
adverb
Word origin
Old English hwīnan; related to Old Norse hvīna, Swedish hvija to scream
Examples of 'whine' in a sentence
whine
These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
Trends of
whine
View usage over:
In other languages
whine
British English: whine
VERB /ˈwaɪn/
If something or someone whines, they make a long, high noise that sounds sad or unpleasant.
He could hear her dog barking and whining in the background.
Browse alphabetically
whine
Related terms of
whine
Source
Definition of whine from the Collins English Dictionary
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
tear or tier?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
tier
tear
There is a of seats around the auditorium.
cymbal or symbol?
Which version is correct?
brake or break?
Drag the correct answer into the box.
brake
break
It caused her to hard.
lessen or lesson?
Which version is correct?
ball or bawl?
Which version is correct?
Your score:
Latest Word Submissions
bug-out bag
Nov 14, 2021
Keeling Curve
Nov 14, 2021
flip phone
Nov 13, 2021
noncomprehensive
Nov 13, 2021
Bonfire or Guy Fawkes Night
On the night of 4 November 1605 Guy Fawkes, a Catholic, was discovered in an undercroft of the House of Lords guarding a hoard of gunpowder intended to explode the following day at the state opening of Parliament and thereby assassinate the Protestant King James I and annihilate the government.
Read more
Study guides for every stage of your learning journey
Whether you're in search of a crossword puzzle, a detailed guide to tying knots, or tips on writing the perfect college essay, Harper Reference has you covered for all your study needs.
Read more
Trick or treat? The eerie etymology behind popular Halloween words
Spooky season has arrived once more! Pumpkins are out in full force and this year, we decided to revisit some of our gruesome lexical offerings with a brand-new look into some of the most popular words and phrases associated with the scariest time of year.
Read more
Collins English Dictionary Apps
Download our English Dictionary apps - available for both iOS and Android.
Read more
Collins Dictionaries for Schools
Our new online dictionaries for schools provide a safe and appropriate environment for children. And best of all it's ad free, so sign up now and start using at home or in the classroom.
Read more
Word lists
We have almost 200 lists of words from topics as varied as types of butterflies, jackets, currencies, vegetables and knots!
Amaze your friends with your new-found knowledge!
Read more
Join the Collins community
All the latest wordy news, linguistic insights, offers and competitions every month.
Read more
Updating our Usage
There are many diverse influences on the way that English is used across the world today. We look at some of the ways in which the language is changing. Read our series of blogs to find out more.
Read more
Area 51, Starship, and Harvest Moon: September’s Words in the News
I’m sure a lot of people would agree that we live in strange times. But do they have to be so strange that Area 51 is making headlines? And what’s this about fish the look like aliens. September’s Words in the News explain all.
Read more
Quick word challenge
Quiz Review
Question: 1
-
Score: 0 / 5
faltering economy or industrial economies?
Which version is correct?
draft proposal or takeover proposal?
Which version is correct?
negative view or ocean views?
Which version is correct?
fantastic atmosphere or poisonous atmosphere?
Which version is correct?
face the danger or spell danger?
Which version is correct?
Your score: