gray whale

noun

: a large baleen whale (Eschrichtius robustus) of the northern Pacific having short jaws and no dorsal fin

Examples of gray whale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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In 1999 hundreds of gray whales washed up along the west coast of North America. Berly McCoy, NPR, 11 Mar. 2026 Whale-come the cetaceans in Dana Point The 55th Annual Dana Point Festival of the Whales, which celebrates gray whale migration, is scheduled for Friday through Sunday in Dana Point Harbor. Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026 Through various programs, the foundation provides educational resources and opportunities to learn about gray whales, their migratory patterns and ocean health. Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026 While two major migrations happen annually — gray whales move November through April with peaks in February and March and blue whale sightings rise May through November — viewings are possible most days of the year. Nora Heston Tarte, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gray whale

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gray whale was in 1834

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Cite this Entry

“Gray whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gray%20whale. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

gray whale

noun
: a large baleen whale of the northern Pacific Ocean

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