whimpering

UK: /ˈwɪmpərɪŋ/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

whim•per /ˈhwɪmpɚ, ˈwɪm-/   v. 

[no object]
1. to cry with or utter in low, sad, weak sounds:
   The dog whimpered from fear.

n. [countable]

2. a whimpering sound.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

whim•per  (hwim′pər, wim′-), v.i. 

1. to cry with low, plaintive, broken sounds.

v.t. 

2. to utter in a whimper.

n. 

3. a whimpering cry or sound.

• obsolete whimp to whine + -er⁶ 1505–15

whim′per•er, n. 
whim′per•ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. whine, weep, sob.
• 3. whine, sob.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

whimper / ˈwɪmpə/ verb

1. (intransitive) to cry, sob, or whine softly or intermittently
2. to complain or say (something) in a whining plaintive way

noun

1. a soft plaintive whine

Etymology: 16th Century: from dialect whimp, of imitative origin

ˈwhimperer noun

ˈwhimpering noun

ˈwhimperingly adverb