whale

1 of 3

noun

ˈ(h)wāl 

plural whales

often attributive

1

or plural whale : any of various very large, aquatic, marine mammals (order Cetacea) that have a torpedo-shaped body with a thick layer of blubber, paddle-shaped forelimbs but no hind limbs, a horizontally flattened tail, and nostrils that open externally at the top of the head

also : cetacean see baleen whale, toothed whale

2

: one that is impressive especially in size

a whale of a difference

a whale of a good time

whalelike

ˈ(h)wāl-ˌlīk 

adjective

whale

2 of 3

verb (1)

whaled; whaling

intransitive verb

: to engage in whale fishing

whale

3 of 3

verb (2)

whaled; whaling

transitive verb

1

: lash, thrash

2

: to strike or hit vigorously

3

: to defeat soundly

Synonyms

Noun

• dinosaur
• giant
• monster
• elephant
• mammoth

Verb (2)

• hit
• punch
• smack
• slap
• bang
• knock
• slam
• bat
• strike
• clip
• pound
• clap
• whack
• swipe
• crack

Examples of whale in a Sentence

Noun

a whale of a pickup truck

Verb (2)

whaled the ball so hard that it sailed over the fence and into the neighbor's yard

whaled the rug with a broom to knock the dirt out of it

mercilessly whaled the pickpocket for stealing from her purse

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! Allen, similar to Grant, described his deep passion for the ocean and hard-to-describe connection with whales. —Skyler Caruso, People.com, 18 July 2025

Start with what stirs the soul — the iridescence of a bioluminescent reef, the sound of a whale’s song echoing across hemispheres, the eerie quiet of deep space. —Melissa Jun Rowley, Rolling Stone, 17 July 2025

As to why this whale chose to hang out in the busy harbor, the organization offered a theory. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 16 July 2025

Where will broken windmills be taken or will they just be allowed to stand broken and ugly? And what about the question about the real effect of windmills on the ocean’s creatures, especially the whales? —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 11 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English hwæl; akin to Old High German hwal whale and perhaps to Latin squalus sea fish

Verb (2)

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1700, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

circa 1790, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing whale

• Antarctic minke whale
• a whale of a time
• baleen whale
• beaked whale
• blue whale
• bowhead whale
• common minke whale
• fin whale
• gray whale
• great white whale
• killer whale
• minke whale
• northern minke whale
• pilot whale
• right whale
• sei whale
• southern minke whale
• sperm whale
• toothed whale
• whalebone whale
• whale shark
• whale watch
• white whale

Rhymes for whale

• ail
• ale
• bail
• baile
• dail
• fail
• flail
• frail
• gael
• gail
• grail
• hail

Kids Definition

whale

1 of 3 noun

ˈhwā(ə)l 

ˈwā(ə)l

plural whales or whale

1

: a water-dwelling mammal (as a humpback whale or a killer whale) that is a cetacean of usually very large size with a torpedo-shaped body, front limbs modified into flippers but no hind limbs, and a tail flattened and extended to the sides as flukes and that usually breathes through an opening on top of the head compare baleen whale, toothed whale

2

: something large enough to catch attention

it made a whale of a difference

whale

2 of 3 verb

whaled; whaling

: to hunt whales

whale

3 of 3 verb

whaled; whaling

1

: thrash sense 2a

2

: to hit hard

whaled the ball

Etymology

Noun

Old English hwæl "whale"

Verb

origin unknown