bleat

1 of 2

verb

ˈblēt 

Northern also

ˈblat 

Southern usually

ˈblāt 

bleated; bleating; bleats

intransitive verb

1

a

: to make the natural cry of a sheep or goat

also : to utter a similar sound

b

: whimper

2

a

: to talk complainingly or with a whine

b

: blather

transitive verb

: to utter in a bleating manner

bleater noun

bleat

2 of 2

noun

1

: the cry of a sheep or goat

also : a similar sound

the bleat of a cell phone

2

: a feeble outcry, protest, or complaint

Synonyms of bleat

Verb

• complain
• scream
• whine
• moan

Noun

• whine
• moan
• complaint
• lament

Examples of bleat in a Sentence

Verb

The lamb bleated as I approached.

“But why can't I go?” she bleated.

The labor union is always bleating about the management.

Noun

a very patient, understanding person who accepts life's inconveniences without a bleat

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Here came Corgan, bleating a ballad that was genuinely moving, and people wanted to hear it. — Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 3 Mar. 2026

And when her furry black-and-white friend follows her — bleating at her heels, eager for more affection — Kusimayu keeps walking. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Dec. 2025

Noun

Goats, their legs bound, lie in the dust thrashing to free themselves, while dozens of people shift past them in a dance punctuated by their bleats. — Andrei Popoviciu, Christian Science Monitor, 30 June 2025

Late that afternoon, Flint was sitting quietly against his tree and using a Primos can call to make bleats. — Bob McNally, Outdoor Life, 3 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English bleten, from Old English blǣtan; akin to Latin flēre to weep, Old English bellan to roar — more at bellow

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

1508, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for bleat

• beat
• beet
• cheat
• cleat
• creat
• deet
• eat
• feat
• feet
• fleet
• greet
• heat

Kids Definition

bleat

1 of 2 verb

ˈblēt 

1

: to utter a bleat or similar sound

2

: to speak in a bleating way

bleat

2 of 2 noun

: the characteristic cry of a sheep or goat