whining

whining — verb

1. to produce a long, high sound that shows pain, unhappiness, or a desire for atte

1.verbintransitiveB1
Definition

to produce a long, high sound that shows pain, unhappiness, or a desire for attention (used especially for dogs, other animals, or engines).

Example

The dog was whining by the door, wanting to go outside for its walk.

whine + adverb of place (by the door)

A high, thin whining sound came from the old car's engine.

Common collocations
  • whine softly
  • whine pitifully
  • whine by the door
  • dog whining
  • engine whining
Synonyms
  • howl

    a longer, louder, more mournful sound, typically by wolves or dogs

  • cry

    more general; can refer to human or animal sounds of distress

  • buzz

    a lower, steadier sound, used for insects or machines, not emotional

Grammar Patterns

whine + adverb of place

whine + to-infinitive

Usage Note

Often used for animals expressing distress or wanting something, and for machines that are old or straining.

Common Mistakes

The dog shouted by the door.
The dog whined by the door.
'shout' is for human voices at high volume; 'whine' is the correct verb for a dog's high-pitched sound.

2. to keep complaining about something in an annoying, tearful, or childish way, of

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveB1
Definition

to keep complaining about something in an annoying, tearful, or childish way, often when there is no real reason to be unhappy.

Example

Quan whined about having to wash the dishes every single evening after dinner.

whine + about + [something]

The children whined to their mother that they were bored with the long car ride.

whine + to + [someone] + that-clause

Common collocations
  • whine about
  • whine to
  • stop whining
  • constant whining
  • whine and complain
Synonyms
  • complain

    neutral and more general; does not carry the same suggestion of childishness

  • moan

    similar in meaning but suggests a low, drawn-out expression of dissatisfaction

  • grumble

    to complain quietly or privately, often about small things

Antonyms
  • accept

    to take a situation without complaining

  • praise

    to express approval, the opposite of complaining

Grammar Patterns

whine + about + [something]

whine + that + [clause]

whine + to + [someone]

Usage Note

This sense is informal and usually disapproving — it suggests the speaker thinks the complaint is unreasonable or exaggerated. The subject is typically a person, often a child or someone acting childishly.

Common Mistakes

She whined about her headache to the doctor.
She complained about her headache to the doctor.
'whine' suggests an unreasonable or exaggerated complaint; 'complain' is neutral and appropriate for a medical visit.

3. to give out a sharp, squealing metallic noise during operation — used for machin

3.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to give out a sharp, squealing metallic noise during operation — used for machines, engines, and power tools that are under strain or moving fast.

Example

The circular saw whined loudly when Andrés cut through the thick metal pipe.

machine subject + whined + adverb of manner

Heloísa heard the drill whine as the workers fixed the road outside her flat.

Common collocations
  • engine whining
  • saw whining
  • whining loudly
  • whining sound
  • machinery whines
Synonyms
  • screech

    a harsher, more sudden sound, often from brakes or tyres

  • squeak

    a shorter, higher-pitched sound, typically from a small moving part

  • hum

    a lower, steadier, more pleasant sound from a machine

Grammar Patterns

whine + adverb of manner

Usage Note

Distinguish from verb sense 1: this sense is purely mechanical — there is no emotion of distress. The sound is harsher and more metallic than the sad sound of an animal.

whining — adjective

whining — noun

Word family

  • whine
    verbB1
  • whiner
    nounB2
  • whiny
    adjectiveB1
  • whiney
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

All four words describe expressing dissatisfaction, but they differ in tone and register. 'Whine' is the most disapproving — it suggests the person is complaining in a childish, tearful way about something trivial, and is commonly used about children or adults acting childishly. 'Complain' is the neutral, all-purpose word: you can complain about anything from bad service to a medical condition without sounding childish. 'Moan' is informal and suggests a drawn-out, low-key expression of unhappiness, often about routine annoyances ('moaning about the weather'). 'Grumble' describes quiet, private complaining, often under one's breath — the complainer is not making a scene but is still unhappy. For example: a child whines about homework, an office worker grumbles about a new policy to a colleague, a customer complains about a faulty product, and a tired traveller moans about another flight delay.

whinecomplain ↗moangrumble ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • stop whining
  • keep whining
  • start whining
  • all that whining
  • enough whining

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Whining comes from the Old English word 'hwinan', meaning 'to whiz or rush through the air with a whistling sound'. It is related to similar words in Old Norse ('hvina') and German ('gähnen', to yawn), all thought to be onomatopoeic — they imitate the sound of something moving quickly through air or a high-pitched cry. The meaning of 'complaining in a childish way' appeared in the early 1800s, probably because the high-pitched persistent sound of a child's complaint reminded people of the sound that the word originally described.