whippoorwill: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowneutral, literary
Quick answer
What does “whippoorwill” mean?
A medium-sized nocturnal bird of North America, known for its distinctive, repetitive call that sounds like its name.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A medium-sized nocturnal bird of North America, known for its distinctive, repetitive call that sounds like its name.
Something, especially a sound, that is repetitive and monotonous, reminiscent of the bird's call. In literature, it can symbolize solitude, the night, or rural American life.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The bird is native to North America, so the term is far more common in American English. A British speaker would likely encounter it in literature or nature documentaries.
Connotations
In AmE, it evokes specific rural/nighttime imagery. In BrE, it's more of an exotic or literary reference.
Frequency
Virtually absent from everyday BrE. Low frequency in AmE, except in regions where the bird is common.
Grammar
How to Use “whippoorwill” in a Sentence
The whippoorwill [verbs: calls, cries, sings].We heard a whippoorwill [prepositional phrase: in the woods, at dusk].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “whippoorwill” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The night was still, save for a bird that began to whippoorwill from the hedgerow. (Literary/rare)
American English
- Out on the lake, we could hear the frogs and the whippoorwilling in the pines. (Literary/rare)
adjective
British English
- The poet described a whippoorwill loneliness that pervaded the landscape. (Literary/rare)
American English
- He fell asleep to the whippoorwill call, a sound of his childhood summers.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely unlikely.
Academic
Used in biology/zoology/ecology papers about North American avifauna.
Everyday
Rare, except in rural areas where the bird is present. 'Listen, you can hear a whippoorwill.'
Technical
Ornithological texts: 'The Antrostomus vociferus, commonly known as the whippoorwill...'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “whippoorwill”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “whippoorwill”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “whippoorwill”
- Misspelling: 'whipperwill', 'whipporwill', 'whip-poor-will' (the hyphenated form is also standard).
- Mispronunciation: Placing stress on the second or third syllable instead of the first.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is standard as one word (whippoorwill) or hyphenated (whip-poor-will). The one-word form is more common in general use.
No. The whippoorwill is a bird native to North and Central America. You would only hear one in the UK if it were in a zoo or aviary.
The name is onomatopoeic, directly imitating the sound of its most familiar call: a clear, rhythmic 'whip-poor-will'.
Very rarely, and only in a literary or poetic context to mean 'to make a sound like a whippoorwill' or 'to call persistently'.
A medium-sized nocturnal bird of North America, known for its distinctive, repetitive call that sounds like its name.
Whippoorwill is usually neutral, literary in register.
Whippoorwill: in British English it is pronounced /ˈwɪp.ə.wɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈwɪp.ɚ.wɪl/ /ˈhwɪp.ɚ.wɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Rare] 'Lonesome as a whippoorwill's call' – expressing deep solitude.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
The word SOUNDS like the bird's call: "Whip-poor-will". Imagine someone named Will being whipped (poor Will!) and crying out.
Conceptual Metaphor
MONOTONY / INSISTENCE IS A WHIPPOORWILL'S CALL (e.g., 'His complaints were a constant whippoorwill in my ear.')
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'whippoorwill' primarily known for?