plural whales
often attributive
1
or plural whale
: any of various very large, aquatic, marine mammals (order Cetacea) that have a torpedo-shaped body with a thick layer of blubber, paddle-shaped forelimbs but no hind limbs, a horizontally flattened tail, and nostrils that open externally at the top of the head
also
: cetacean see baleen whale, toothed whale
2
: one that is impressive especially in size
a whale of a difference
a whale of a good time
whaled; whaling
Synonyms
Examples of whale in a Sentence
Noun
a whale of a pickup truck
Verb (2)
whaled the ball so hard that it sailed over the fence and into the neighbor's yard
whaled the rug with a broom to knock the dirt out of it
mercilessly whaled the pickpocket for stealing from her purse
Recent Examples on the Web
Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Feb. 2025
While manatees have a large, rounded and almost spoon-like tail, the tail of a dugong is fluked, looking more like the tail of a whale, according to the Marine Mammal Center.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2025
In one New York fire, for example, whale oil caught fire resulting in 30 deaths and the destruction of over 345 buildings.
—Justin Hawkins / Made By History, TIME, 31 Jan. 2025
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Fish caught by methods that can also entangle whales, dolphins, and seals will be banned from U.S. import, starting Jan. 1, 2026, according to a recent agreement.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for whale 
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Noun
For me, the deepest resonance has to do with appreciating whales and dolphins as sentient beings, as creatures that share the planet with us, and that’s still a very moving idea.
—Georg Szalai, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Feb. 2025
While manatees have a large, rounded and almost spoon-like tail, the tail of a dugong is fluked, looking more like the tail of a whale, according to the Marine Mammal Center.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2025
In one New York fire, for example, whale oil caught fire resulting in 30 deaths and the destruction of over 345 buildings.
—Justin Hawkins / Made By History, TIME, 31 Jan. 2025
Newsletter Sign up for our email newsletter for the latest science news
Fish caught by methods that can also entangle whales, dolphins, and seals will be banned from U.S. import, starting Jan. 1, 2026, according to a recent agreement.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 30 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for whale
Articles Related to whale
Dictionary Entries Near whale
Cite this Entry
“Whale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whale. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
whale
1 of 3 noun
ˈhwā(ə)l 
ˈwā(ə)l
plural whales or whale
1
: a water-dwelling mammal (as a humpback whale or a killer whale) that is a cetacean of usually very large size with a torpedo-shaped body, front limbs modified into flippers but no hind limbs, and a tail flattened and extended to the sides as flukes and that usually breathes through an opening on top of the head compare baleen whale, toothed whale
2
: something large enough to catch attention
it made a whale of a difference
whale
2 of 3 verb
whaled; whaling
: to hunt whales
Etymology
Noun
Old English hwæl "whale"
Verb
origin unknown
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