verb
Uncommon
whine
WYN
Whine (verb) means to complain in an annoying, high-pitched or self-pitying way. Example: “The kids started whining about being bored halfway through the trip.”
verb
1
To complain in an annoying, high-pitched or self-pitying way.
"The kids started whining about being bored halfway through the trip."
"Stop whining and just get on with the work."
noun
1
A long, high-pitched complaining sound or tone of voice.
"The engine let out a high-pitched whine before it finally stalled."
How to use whine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo complain in an annoying, drawn-out way, or the sound this makes.
Common mistake
Not to be confused with "wine" (the drink) — they sound identical but are unrelated.
Common pairings
whine about
stop whining
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Word forms
- Plural
- whines
- Third person singular
- whines
- Past tense
- whined
- Archaic forms
- whinest, whinedst, whineth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The engine let out a high-pitched _____ before it finally stalled.
Etymology
From Old English hwinan, "to make a whistling or whizzing sound" — the meaning narrowed over time to focus on complaining.
Related words
Rhymes for whine
See all rhymes for whine →Frequently asked questions
What does “whine” mean?
The word “whine” means to complain in an annoying, high-pitched or self-pitying way. In plain terms, to complain in an annoying, drawn-out way, or the sound this makes.
How do you pronounce “whine”?
“Whine” is pronounced WYN (/ˈwaɪ̯n/ in IPA).
How do you use “whine” in a sentence?
Here is “whine” used in a sentence: “The engine let out a high-pitched whine before it finally stalled.”
What part of speech is “whine”?
Depending on how it is used, “whine” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “whine” come from?
The word “whine” comes from Old English. From Old English hwinan, "to make a whistling or whizzing sound" — the meaning narrowed over time to focus on complaining.
Is “whine” a common word?
“Whine” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “whine” have?
“Whine” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to complain in an annoying, high-pitched or self-pitying way.
