to whinny
- verb
- /ˈhwɪni/
- Marsh turns back toward the pens where Rufus is trotting back and forth by the dividing fence, shaking his head and whinnying for Maxim.
- horses whinny
- hear whinnying
Examples
-
The horse reared, whinnying in fright.
Fiction book (2001) -
Outside, the horse whinnies loudly and rears up on its hind legs.
Fiction book (1990) -
The horses whinny wildly as they catch the scent of the wolves.
Fiction book (1996) -
The horses whinny.
Fiction book (1991) -
Panicked, the horse rears, whinnying wildly.
Fiction book (1991) -
Rufus, Maxim's buddy in the next pen, is trotting back and forth, whinnying.
Fiction book (1998) -
Their horses too refused to go any farther, shying and whinnying at the fearful stench.
Fiction book (2001) -
Drak stops; he listens to the horses whinnying and stomping their hooves.
Fiction book (1996) -
As I approached the stable, I heard the horse whinny softly in anticipation.
-
The mare started to whinny when she saw her owner coming with a bucket of feed.
Synonyms
To make the loud, high sound horses make
To make a soft low sound as a horse does when greeting or expecting food
To make a soft neigh to greet another horse or person
How High-Pitched
Surface Forms
Etymology
Whinny as a verb comes from the same imitation of a horse's sound, like the familiar word neigh and the sound 'gentle neigh'. So to whinny is to make that soft, high horse call.