Pronunciation: /ˈwɪsəlɪŋ/

Definitions of whistling

verb the act of making a high-pitched sound by blowing air through pursed lips

Example Sentences

A1 She enjoys whistling while she works.

A2 He was whistling a tune as he walked down the street.

B1 The children were happily whistling along to the music.

B2 The old man sat on the porch, whistling a familiar melody.

C1 The skilled musician was whistling a complex jazz solo effortlessly.

C2 The bird watcher could identify different bird species just by their whistling calls.

adjective describing the action of making a high-pitched sound

Example Sentences

A1 She heard a whistling sound coming from the kitchen.

A2 The whistling kettle signaled that the water was boiling.

B1 The whistling wind outside made it difficult to hear.

B2 The whistling of the birds in the trees added to the peaceful atmosphere.

C1 The whistling of the wind through the trees created a haunting melody.

C2 The whistling of the tea kettle brought back fond memories of her grandmother's house.

Examples of whistling in a Sentence

formal The sound of whistling wind could be heard through the cracks in the window.

informal I caught myself whistling along to the radio in the car.

slang He was whistling at the cute girl who walked by.

figurative The kettle began whistling, signaling that it was time to make tea.

Grammatical Forms of whistling

past tense

whistled

plural

whistlings

comparative

more whistling

superlative

most whistling

present tense

whistle

future tense

will whistle

perfect tense

have whistled

continuous tense

is whistling

singular

whistling

positive degree

whistling

infinitive

to whistle

gerund

whistling

participle

whistling

Origin and Evolution of whistling

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'whistling' originated from the Old English word 'hwistlian', which meant to make a shrill sound.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'whistling' has retained its original meaning of producing a high-pitched sound through the pursed lips, but it has also come to be associated with various forms of communication, signaling, and musical expression.