whip
WIHP
Whip (noun) means a flexible rod or braided cord, often of leather, used to strike an animal or person, or to make a sharp cracking noise. Example: “The trainer cracked the whip in the ring and the horses stepped forward.”
noun
1
A flexible rod or braided cord, often of leather, used to strike an animal or person, or to make a sharp cracking noise.
"The trainer cracked the whip in the ring and the horses stepped forward."
"He kept an old leather whip hanging on the stable wall."
"The rider gave the horse a light touch with the whip to speed it up."
2
A politician responsible for making sure party members vote according to party policy.
"The chief whip told the group that attendance at the vote was compulsory."
"As a whip, she spent the evening making sure members were in the chamber."
"The party whip warned MPs that missing the vote would have consequences."
verb
1
To strike with a whip or similar flexible object.
"The driver whipped the mule to make it climb the slope."
"Long ago, some riders whipped their horses to make them run faster."
"The jockey whipped the horse gently in the final stretch."
2
To beat food quickly, especially cream or eggs, so that it becomes light and airy.
"Whip the egg whites in a clean bowl until they are stiff."
"Whip the cream until soft peaks form."
"She whipped the eggs and sugar together until fluffy."
3
To move something suddenly and quickly.
"The wind whipped the hat off his head and across the street."
"He whipped his phone out to take a photo of the accident."
"She whipped around when she heard her name called."
How to use whip
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tool for striking or a quick, sudden motion — and, separately, a party official who enforces voting discipline.
Common pairings
whip cream
whip out
party whip
crack the whip
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like whip.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- whips
- Third person singular
- whips
- Past tense
- whipped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The trainer cracked the _____ in the ring and the horses stepped forward.
Etymology
From Middle English whippen, "to move suddenly", related to Dutch wippen ("to swing or bounce") — the political sense comes from "whipper-in", the huntsman who kept hounds from straying, borrowed into parliamentary slang in the 1700s.
Class of 1700
whip joined the language around 1700.
See the full Class of 1700 →
Related words
Rhymes for whip
See all rhymes for whip →Frequently asked questions
What does “whip” mean?
The word “whip” means a flexible rod or braided cord, often of leather, used to strike an animal or person, or to make a sharp cracking noise. In plain terms, a tool for striking or a quick, sudden motion — and, separately, a party official who enforces voting discipline.
How do you pronounce “whip”?
“Whip” is pronounced WIHP (/ˈwɪp/ in IPA).
How do you use “whip” in a sentence?
Here is “whip” used in a sentence: “The rider gave the horse a light touch with the whip to speed it up.”
What is another word for “whip”?
Words with a similar meaning to “whip” include crop, driving whip, dressage whip, jumping bat, flail and knout.
What part of speech is “whip”?
Depending on how it is used, “whip” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “whip” come from?
The word “whip” dates back to around 1700 and comes from Middle English.
Is “whip” a common word?
“Whip” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “whip” have?
“Whip” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a flexible rod or braided cord, often of leather, used to strike an animal or person, or to make a sharp cracking noise.
What does a whip do in politics?
In politics, a whip is the politician responsible for making sure party members vote according to party policy. Whips count expected votes, ensure members turn up for important votes, and apply party discipline. The role exists in many legislatures, including the UK Parliament and the US Congress.
What is the difference between whipping and whisking in cooking?
Whipping means beating food quickly, especially cream or egg whites, so it takes in air and becomes light and airy, gaining volume. Whisking is the broader action of beating or blending with a whisk, which may aim only to combine ingredients smoothly. All whipping involves fast beating, but not all whisking is meant to add volume.
What is a three-line whip?
In UK politics, a three-line whip is the strictest voting instruction a party's whips can issue, requiring members to attend and vote the party line. The name refers to the item being underlined three times on the written instructions sent to members. Defying a three-line whip is treated as serious party indiscipline.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include whip:
