whittling

1 of 2

noun

whit·​tling ˈ(h)wi-tᵊl-iŋ 

ˈ(h)wit-liŋ

1

: the act or art of whittling

2

: a piece cut away in whittling

whittling

2 of 2

present participle of whittle entry 1

Examples of whittling in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

While Ma handled the quilting and Pa the whittling, the girls often made crowns from wildflowers, dolls from cloth or paper, and homemade garlands for the holidays. — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 July 2026

First two of 104 matches are this coming Thursday as 12 four-team groups begin the whittling process from 48 nations to a round-of-32. — Greg Cote june 7, Miami Herald, 7 June 2026

Red Madsen loved his wives, his kids, everybody else’s kids, his family, dogs, fishing, whittling, doodling, reading (especially Mark Twain), Cord automobiles, hoisting a few with friends and telling stories. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 May 2026

Guests can watch aproned masters at work— chisels and gouges in hand—shaping, grooving, and whittling. — Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2025

Doing so would fast-track the bills into law without the normal whittling down that happens in committee hearings. — Liam Dillon, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2025

But the death of this institution could come in another way – the whittling away of public spaces, the closing of doors to local authors, and the end to partnerships like the Pen and Podium series. — The Denver Post Editorial Board, The Denver Post, 25 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1