What does "whip" mean?
A lash; a pliant, flexible instrument, such as a rod (commonly of cane or rattan) or a plaited or braided rope or thong (commonly of leather) used to create a sharp "crack" sound for directing or herding animals.
Whip
/wɪp/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Top 500 ·Elementary level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A lash; a pliant, flexible instrument, such as a rod (commonly of cane or rattan) or a plaited or braided rope or thong (commonly of leather) used to create a sharp "crack" sound for directing or herding animals.
- Grammar: whip is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: lash, crop, flog, lash.
- Useful contrasts: blend, delay, free vote.
- Usage evidence: I'm sure you'll whip us up something really good.
How to use "whip"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "whip" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "whip" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "whip" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "whip" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "whip" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "lash" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A lash; a pliant, flexible instrument, such as a rod (commonly of cane or rattan) or a plaited or braided rope or thong (commonly of leather) used to create a sharp "crack" sound for directing or herding animals.
"I had to use the whip to get the sheep's attention."
- 2 Acronym of walks plus hits per inning pitched; a statistic of the number of baserunners a pitcher has allowed per inning pitched. abbreviation, acronym, alt-of
- 3 a quick blow delivered with a whip or whiplike object wordnet
- 4 A lash; a pliant, flexible instrument, such as a rod (commonly of cane or rattan) or a plaited or braided rope or thong (commonly of leather) used to create a sharp "crack" sound for directing or herding animals.; The same instrument used to strike a person or animal for corporal punishment or torture.
"Once he ran out of appeals, he knew he would soon feel the sting of the whip."
- 5 an instrument with a handle and a flexible lash that is used for whipping wordnet
Show 17 more definitions
- 6 A blow administered with a whip.
"I had hardly said the word, when Kit jumped into the saddle, and gave his horse a whip and a spur — and off it cantered, as if it were in as great a hurry to be married as Kit himself."
- 7 (golf) the flexibility of the shaft of a golf club wordnet
- 8 A whipper-in.
"At half-past ten, Tom Moody, Sir Huddlestone Fuddlestone's huntsman, was seen trotting up the avenue, followed by the noble pack of hounds in a compact body—the rear being brought up by the two whips clad in stained scarlet frocks—light hard-featured lads on well-bred lean horses, possessing marvellous dexterity in casting the points of their long heavy whips at the thinnest part of any dog's skin who dares to straggle from the main body […]"
- 9 a dessert made of sugar and stiffly beaten egg whites or cream and usually flavored with fruit wordnet
- 10 A member of a political party who is in charge of enforcing the party's policies in votes.
"I was going to vote against the bill, but the party whip came to see me and made it clear I needed to vote for it."
- 11 a legislator appointed by the party to enforce discipline wordnet
- 12 A document distributed weekly to MPs by party whips informing them of upcoming votes in parliament. UK, with-definite-article
- 13 The regular status of an MP within a parliamentary party, which can be revoked by the party as a disciplinary measure. UK, broadly
"to withdraw the whip"
- 14 Whipped cream.
"Did you want to add some whip to your coffee, ma'am?"
- 15 A purchase in which one block is used to gain a 2:1 mechanical advantage.
- 16 A mode of personal motorized transportation; an automobile, all makes and models including motorcycles, excluding public transportation.
"Had four bills and I bought me a car / Little red whip that I bought for my marge"
- 17 A move in which one player transfers momentum to another.
- 18 A whipping motion; a thrashing about.
"I was startled by the whip of the rope when it finally snapped."
- 19 The quality of being whiplike or flexible; suppleness, as of the shaft of a golf club.
- 20 Any of various pieces that operate with a quick vibratory motion; A spring in certain electrical devices for making a circuit
- 21 Any of various pieces that operate with a quick vibratory motion; A wippen, a rocking component in certain piano actions.
- 22 A coach driver; a coachman. historical
"Lord Carington […] led the way with his chestnuts, having a distinguished brother whip, Lord Londesborough, by his side."
Verb
- 1 To hit with a whip. transitive
"The rider whipped the horse."
- 2 subject to harsh criticism wordnet
- 3 To hit with any flexible object. broadly, transitive
"I whipped her with a newspaper."
- 4 defeat thoroughly wordnet
- 5 To defeat, as in a contest or game. slang, transitive
"She whips me in the first game of pool, I do not even get a shot. Eight-balled from the break."
Show 18 more definitions
- 6 strike as if by whipping wordnet
- 7 To mix in a rapid aerating fashion, especially food. transitive
"to whip eggs or cream"
- 8 beat severely with a whip or rod wordnet
- 9 To urge into action or obedience. transitive
"He whipped the department into shape."
- 10 whip with or as if with a wire whisk wordnet
- 11 To enforce a member voting in accordance with party policy. transitive
- 12 thrash about flexibly in the manner of a whiplash wordnet
- 13 To bind the end of a rope with twine or other small stuff to prevent its unlaying: fraying or unravelling. transitive
"1677-1683, Joseph Moxon, Mechanick exercises Its string […] is firmly whipt about with small Gut"
- 14 To hoist or purchase by means of a whip. transitive
- 15 To sew lightly; specifically, to form (a fabric) into gathers by loosely overcasting the rolled edge and drawing up the thread.
"to whip a ruffle"
- 16 To throw or kick an object at a high velocity. transitive
"He whipped the ball at me."
- 17 To fish a body of water especially by making repeated casts. ambitransitive
"whipping its rough surface for a trout"
- 18 To snap back and forth like a whip. intransitive
"The pennants whipped in the wind."
- 19 To move very fast. intransitive
"The wind whipped through the valley."
- 20 To move (something) very fast; often with up, out, etc. transitive
"She,[…] in a hurry, whips up her Darling under her Arm."
- 21 To transfer momentum from one skater to another. transitive
- 22 To lash with sarcasm, abuse, etc. figuratively
"They would whip me with their fine wits."
- 23 To thrash; to beat out, as grain, by striking.
"to whip wheat"
Example
"I'm sure you'll whip us up something really good."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "whip"?
Common synonyms include: lash, crop, flog, lash, lather, slash.
How do you use "whip" in a sentence?
I'm sure you'll whip us up something really good.
How do you pronounce "whip"?
Pronounced /wɪp/.
Etymology
From Middle English whippen, wippen (“to flap violently”), from Middle Dutch wippen (“to swing, leap, dance, oscillate”) and Middle Low German wippen (“to move quickly”), from Proto-Germanic *wipjaną (“to move back and forth”). Some similarity to Sanskrit root वेप् (vep, “shake, flourish”), Latin vibrō (“I shake”). (See Swedish vippa and Danish vippe (“to shake”)). The unetymological wh- is probably expressive of the sound of a whip; compare the same development in whisk and onomatopoeias such as whack and whoosh. The political senses are from whipper-in (“huntsman who keeps the hounds from wandering”), 18th century hunting terminology.