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noun

whist

WIHST

Whist (noun) means a card game for four players, an ancestor of bridge. Example: “They spent the evening playing whist with the neighbours.”

noun
1
A card game for four players, an ancestor of bridge.
"They spent the evening playing whist with the neighbours."

How to use whist

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn old card game for four players that later developed into bridge.

Word forms

more whist comparative, whisted past tense, whists plural, whists singular, most whist superlative

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

They spent the evening playing _____ with the neighbours.

Etymology

Likely an alteration of whisk, possibly from the idea of "whisking" up the cards after each round of play.

long whist short whist

Rhymes for whist

See all rhymes for whist →

Frequently asked questions

What does “whist” mean?

The word “whist” means a card game for four players, an ancestor of bridge. In plain terms, an old card game for four players that later developed into bridge.

How do you pronounce “whist”?

“Whist” is pronounced WIHST (/ˈwɪst/ in IPA).

How do you use “whist” in a sentence?

Here is “whist” used in a sentence: “They spent the evening playing whist with the neighbours.”

What part of speech is “whist”?

“Whist” is a noun.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial