whining

UK: /ˈwaɪnɪŋ/

From the verb whine: (⇒ conjugate)

whining is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

whine /hwaɪn, waɪn/   v., whined, whin•ing, n. 
v. 

1. to make a long, usually nasal, complaining sound, often high-pitched:
   [no object] The dog whined at the door
2. to complain in a self-pitying way: [~ + that clause]
   The children whined that they wanted to stay up late.
   [no object]
   Don't whine.

n. [countable]

3. a whining word, sound, or complaint.

whin•er, n. [countable]
whin•y, adj., -i•er, -i•est. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

whine  (hwīn, wīn), v., whined, whin•ing, n. 
v.i. 

1. to utter a low, usually nasal, complaining cry or sound, as from uneasiness, discontent, peevishness, etc.:
   The puppies were whining from hunger.
2. to snivel or complain in a peevish, self-pitying way:
   He is always whining about his problems.

v.t. 
3. to utter with or as if with a whine:
   I whined my litany of complaints.

n. 
4. a whining utterance, sound, or tone.
5. a feeble, peevish complaint.
• bef. 1150; Middle English whinen (verb, verbal), Old English hwīnan to whiz; cognate with Old Norse hvīna
whin′er, n. 
whin′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms
• 1. moan, whimper.
• 2. See complain. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

whine / waɪn/ noun

1. a long high-pitched plaintive cry or moan
2. a continuous high-pitched sound
3. a peevish complaint, esp one repeated

verb

1. to make a whine or utter in a whine

Etymology: Old English hwīnan; related to Old Norse hvīna, Swedish hvija to scream

ˈwhiner noun

ˈwhining adjective

ˈwhiningly adverb