WHIMPER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does whimper mean? 

• WHIMPER (noun)
  The noun WHIMPER has 1 sense:

1. a complaint uttered in a plaintive whining way

  Familiarity information: WHIMPER used as a noun is very rare.

• WHIMPER (verb)
  The verb WHIMPER has 1 sense:

1. cry weakly or softly

  Familiarity information: WHIMPER used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• WHIMPER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A complaint uttered in a plaintive whining way

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

whimper; whine

Hypernyms ("whimper" is a kind of...):

complaint (an expression of grievance or resentment)

Derivation:

whimper (cry weakly or softly)

• WHIMPER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they whimper    ... he / she / it whimpers   
Past simple: whimpered   
Past participle: whimpered   
-ing form: whimpering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cry weakly or softly

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

mewl; pule; wail; whimper

Context example:

she wailed with pain

Hypernyms (to "whimper" is one way to...):

cry; weep (shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

whimper (a complaint uttered in a plaintive whining way)

 Context examples 

At such times he whimpered and snarled in his sleep, and they that looked on said that his dreams were bad.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

Mrs. Gummidge, whimpering and shaking her head, applied herself to blowing the fire.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

The wretched creature began to whimper.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It would wail in its cradle all night long—not screaming heartily like any other child, but whimpering and moaning.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Billee cried and whimpered regularly in his sleep each night.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)

"You see," said the Cowardly Lion, with a whimper, "I haven't the courage to keep tramping forever, without getting anywhere at all."

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)

At the sight of Mr. Utterson, the housemaid broke into hysterical whimpering; and the cook, crying out “Bless God! it’s Mr. Utterson,” ran forward as if to take him in her arms.

(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

His voice lost its querulous and whimpering note, and became strong and positive.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

Leach could have killed him, but, having evidently filled the measure of his vengeance, he drew away from his prostrate foe, who was whimpering and wailing in a puppyish sort of way, and walked forward.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

"I've got my rights," he whimpered.

(White Fang, by Jack London)