whale
8 synonyms for whale, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A very large sea mammal, related to dolphins, that breathes air through a blowhole.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use whale
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
whale watching
a whale of a time
blue whale
Etymology
From Old English hwæl, part of an old Germanic word family for "whale" that stretches back to a root meaning something like "big fish."
Full origin of whale →Frequently asked questions
What does “whale” mean?
The word “whale” means a very large sea mammal, related to dolphins, that breathes air through a blowhole. In plain terms, the giant sea mammal, or slang for a big-spending gambler/customer.
How do you pronounce “whale”?
“Whale” is pronounced WAYL (/ˈweɪ̯l/ in IPA).
How do you use “whale” in a sentence?
Here is “whale” used in a sentence: “They watched a whale breach just off the coast.”
What part of speech is “whale”?
Depending on how it is used, “whale” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “whale” come from?
The word “whale” comes from Old English. From Old English hwæl, part of an old Germanic word family for "whale" that stretches back to a root meaning something like "big fish.".
Is “whale” a common word?
“Whale” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “whale” have?
“Whale” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a very large sea mammal, related to dolphins, that breathes air through a blowhole.
What is the difference between a whale and a dolphin?
Whales and dolphins are closely related sea mammals, both belonging to the group called cetaceans. In general, whales are much larger, while dolphins are smaller and often have a distinct beak-like snout. Confusingly, some animals with "dolphin" in their name are technically small whales.
Why is a whale a mammal and not a fish?
A whale is a mammal because it breathes air through a blowhole, is warm-blooded, and feeds its young on milk, unlike fish. Fish breathe underwater through gills and are cold-blooded. Although a whale lives in the sea and is roughly fish-shaped, its biology is mammalian.
