MEANING
To make a soft, weak, or broken cry, often from fear, pain, or distress.
Use it for
subdued frightened vocalization; distress difficult to articulateGive fear a small sound rather than a dramatic scream.
Words that belong together
- whimper in fear
- whimper softly
- whimper for help
On the page
The child whimpered when the lights failed again.
Behind the closed door, the dog whimpered at each burst of thunder.
He tried to ask for help, but only managed to whimper.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- whimper / whimpers
- Past tense
- whimpered
- Past participle
- whimpered
- Present participle
- whimpering
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- whimper / whimpers
- Present continuous
- am/is/are whimpering
- Present perfect
- have/has whimpered
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been whimpering
- Past
- whimpered
- Past continuous
- was/were whimpering
- Past perfect
- had whimpered
- Past perfect continuous
- had been whimpering
- Future
- will whimper / whimpers
- Future continuous
- will be whimpering
- Future perfect
- will have whimpered
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been whimpering
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Primary category: fear. An audible response, not proof of fear; also figuratively means complain weakly. Less piercing than a shriek or yelp. Verb forms (base, third-person singular, past, past participle, -ing): whimper, whimpers, whimpered, whimpered, whimpering.
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