Word
whine
US/ˈhwaɪn/
UK/wˈaɪn/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a long, high cry or sound that shows someone is unhappy or complaining. It can also describe the high-pitched noise made by a machine or an engine.
n. a long, high-pitched complaining cry or sound; also refers to a sustained, high-frequency mechanical noise. Often used to describe the sound of a jet engine or a person expressing dissatisfaction in a childish manner.
Examples
“The dog gave a low whine because he wanted to go outside.”
“The constant whine of the air conditioner made it difficult for the students to focus on their exam.”
“The politician's speech was dismissed by critics as a repetitive whine about unfair treatment rather than a serious proposal for reform.”
Examples
simple
“The dog gave a low whine because he wanted to go outside.”
contextual
“The constant whine of the air conditioner made it difficult for the students to focus on their exam.”
complex
“The politician's speech was dismissed by critics as a repetitive whine about unfair treatment rather than a serious proposal for reform.”
Usage
Often takes the preposition 'of' to describe the source of the sound.
Etymology
From Middle English whynen, hwinen, whinen, from Old English hwīnan (“to rush, to whizz, to squeal, to whine”), from Proto-West Germanic hwīnan, from Proto-Germanic hwīnaną, from Proto-Indo-European ḱwey- (“to hiss, whistle, whisper”). Cognate with Old Norse hvína, whence Icelandic hvína, Norwegian Nynorsk kvina, Swedish vina, and Danish hvine. Despite the strong similarity in sound and meaning, not related with German weinen, Dutch wenen, from Proto-Germanic wainōną (for which see dialectal English ween (“to weep, lament”)).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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