Illustration of whippoorwill
- whip-poor-will
whippoorwill
noun
whip·poor·will
ˈ(h)wi-pər-ˌwil 
ˌ(h)wi-pər-ˈwil
variants
or less commonly whip-poor-will
plural whippoorwills also whip-poor-wills
: a nocturnal nightjar (Antrostomus vociferus synonym Caprimulgus vociferus) of chiefly eastern North America with a loud repeated call suggestive of its name
Examples of whippoorwill in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As a whippoorwill sings overhead, Kalil catches our third and final python—a female, possibly carrying eggs.
—
Krista Stevens, Longreads, 24 Oct. 2024
Nocturnal birds such as owls and whip-poor-wills began to call.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
The Mexican whip-poor-will, which can be found in the southwestern U.S., has a call that sounds like its name.
—Alexandra Marvar, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2023
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Krista Stevens, Longreads, 24 Oct. 2024
Nocturnal birds such as owls and whip-poor-wills began to call.
—Carlyn Kranking, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
The Mexican whip-poor-will, which can be found in the southwestern U.S., has a call that sounds like its name.
—Alexandra Marvar, New York Times, 3 Aug. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Whippoorwill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whippoorwill. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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