whis·tle-stop
ˈ(h)wi-səl-ˌstäp 
often attributive
1
a
: a small station at which trains stop only on signal : flag stop
b
: a small community
2
: a brief personal appearance especially by a political candidate usually on the rear platform of a train during the course of a tour
whistle-stopped; whistle-stopping; whistle-stops
: to make a tour especially in a political campaign with many brief personal appearances in small communities
Examples of whistle-stop in a Sentence
Noun
for that all-important primary election, candidates are willing to go to every whistle-stop in the state
Recent Examples on the Web
Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2025
Commander Lawrence leads a whistle-stop tour of his one-gazebo town.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
As ever, this year’s lineup offers a snapshot of film festival highlights, taking us on a whistle-stop tour of the big five — Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, Venice and Toronto — with titles that made an impact at events in Warsaw, Thessaloniki, Taipei, Locarno, Málaga, Haugesund and Karlovy Vary.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 7 Dec. 2024
On Monday, the last day before the election, Harris finally came to Allentown for a whistle-stop rally.
—Julia Preston, The New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2024
Meanwhile, his publishers have arranged a whistle-stop book tour through the US.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2024
Taking a whistle-stop tour down memory lane, the pair will uncover secrets from each other’s past in The Odd Couple, sharing funny and heart-warming stories along the way.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 25 July 2024
Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, has openly criticized Orban’s whistle-stop diplomatic tour.
—Mikhail Klimentov, Washington Post, 16 July 2024
Growing up in a whistle-stop Oklahoma town, Turner’s introduction to the world of publishing was second nature — his father Fred owned and ran the local newspaper, which is where the younger Turner got his start as a cub photographer.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 26 June 2024
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Noun
Much like with Top Gun: Maverick, Cruise is doing a Cannes flyby with Mission: Impossible 8, with the whistle-stop on the Croisette followed up by press touchdowns in London, Korea and Japan.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2025
Commander Lawrence leads a whistle-stop tour of his one-gazebo town.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
As ever, this year’s lineup offers a snapshot of film festival highlights, taking us on a whistle-stop tour of the big five — Sundance, Berlin, Cannes, Venice and Toronto — with titles that made an impact at events in Warsaw, Thessaloniki, Taipei, Locarno, Málaga, Haugesund and Karlovy Vary.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 7 Dec. 2024
On Monday, the last day before the election, Harris finally came to Allentown for a whistle-stop rally.
—Julia Preston, The New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2024
Meanwhile, his publishers have arranged a whistle-stop book tour through the US.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2024
Taking a whistle-stop tour down memory lane, the pair will uncover secrets from each other’s past in The Odd Couple, sharing funny and heart-warming stories along the way.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 25 July 2024
Zelensky, Ukraine’s president, has openly criticized Orban’s whistle-stop diplomatic tour.
—Mikhail Klimentov, Washington Post, 16 July 2024
Growing up in a whistle-stop Oklahoma town, Turner’s introduction to the world of publishing was second nature — his father Fred owned and ran the local newspaper, which is where the younger Turner got his start as a cub photographer.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 26 June 2024
Cite this Entry
“Whistle-stop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whistle-stop. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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