whistle

verb

whistled; whistling ˈ(h)wi-s(ə-)liŋ 

intransitive verb

1

a

: to utter a shrill clear sound by blowing or drawing air through the puckered lips

b

: to utter a shrill note or call resembling a whistle

c

: to make a shrill clear sound especially by rapid movement

the wind whistled

d

: to blow or sound a whistle

2

a

: to give a signal or issue an order or summons by or as if by whistling

b

: to make a demand without result

he did a sloppy job, so he can whistle for his money

transitive verb

1

a

: to send, bring, signal, or call by or as if by whistling

b

: to charge (someone, such as a basketball or hockey player) with an infraction

2

: to produce, utter, or express by whistling

whistle a tune

whistleable

ˈ(h)wi-sə-lə-bəl 

adjective

see also:

whistle in the dark

Examples of whistle in a Sentence

He was whistling as he walked down the street.

He whistled for a cab.

He whistled a happy tune.

The teakettle started to whistle.

A bullet whistled past him.

Recent Examples on the Web

Ten whistles up and down England have brought another Premier League campaign to an end. —Luke Bosher, New York Times, 24 May 2026

Steal the ball without getting whistled. —Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026

The result, a collaboration with Joseph Shirley — whose composer credits include The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett and Creed III — is a beautiful, winding soundtrack that weaves between whistling, clapping Americana, gospel-like hymns and spiritual delta blues. —Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 19 May 2026

Sitting on a small log in the center of the forest, surrounded by softly waving trees and whistling birds, Bob Berkebile wrote a letter no one will ever read. —Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 12 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing whistle

• blow the whistle
• clean as a whistle
• dog whistle
• penny whistle
• tin whistle
• wet one's whistle
• whistle-blower
• whistle-blowing
• whistle in the dark
• whistle past the graveyard
• whistle-stop
• wolf whistle

Rhymes for whistle

• abyssal
• dismissal
• epistle
• bristle
• fissile
• gristle
• missal
• missile
• nissl
• thistle

Kids Definition

whistle

1 of 2 noun

whis·​tle ˈhwis-əl 

ˈwis-

1

: a device making a shrill sound

tin whistle

steam whistle

2

a

: a shrill clear sound made by forcing air through puckered lips

b

: a sound or signal produced by a whistle or as if by whistling

whistle

2 of 2 verb

whistled; whistling ˈhwis-(ə-)liŋ 

ˈwis-

1

: to make a whistle through puckered lips

2

: to move, pass, or go with a shrill sound

an arrow whistled by me

3

: to blow or sound a whistle

the teakettle whistled

4

: to utter by whistling

whistle a tune

whistler

ˈhwis-(ə-)lər, 

ˈwis-

noun