bleat

1 of 2

verb

ˈblēt 

 Northern also  ˈblat,

 Southern usually  ˈblāt

bleated; bleating; bleats

intransitive verb

1

a

: to make the natural cry of a sheep or goat

also : to utter a similar sound

b

: whimper

2

a

: to talk complainingly or with a whine

b

: blather

transitive verb

: to utter in a bleating manner

bleater noun

bleat

2 of 2

noun

1

: the cry of a sheep or goat

also : a similar sound

the bleat of a cell phone

2

: a feeble outcry, protest, or complaint

Synonyms

Verb

• beef
• bellyache
• bitch
• carp
• caterwaul
• complain
• crab
• croak
• fuss
• gripe
• grizzle
• grouch
• grouse
• growl
• grumble
• grump
• holler
• inveigh
• keen
• kick
• kvetch
• maunder [chiefly British]
• moan
• murmur
• mutter
• nag
• repine
• scream
• squawk
• squeal
• wail
• whimper
• whine
• whinge [British]
• yammer
• yawp
• yaup
• yowl

Noun

• beef
• bitch
• carp
• complaint
• fuss
• grievance
• gripe
• grouch
• grouse
• grumble
• holler
• kvetch
• lament
• miserere
• moan
• murmur
• plaint
• squawk
• wail
• whimper
• whine
• whinge [British]
• yammer

Examples of bleat in a Sentence

Verb

The lamb bleated as I approached.

“But why can't I go?” she bleated.

The labor union is always bleating about the management.

Noun

a very patient, understanding person who accepts life's inconveniences without a bleat

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

My phone is always bleating with its outro sound effect. —New York Times, 19 Apr. 2024

Formed at Columbia University in 2006, the band made perky, bleating indie rock about Cape Cod, mansard roofs, and Oxford commas. —Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024

Noun

While does and young deer utter a sheep-like bleat to communicate with each other, this sound is relatively quiet; under most conditions, these sounds are audible from only a short distance. —Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 28 Sep. 2023

This phase is the perfect time to get your hands on a grunt tube, a bleat can, and rattling antlers—and be ready to use them. —Scott Bestul, Field & Stream, 6 Sep. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English bleten, from Old English blǣtan; akin to Latin flēre to weep, Old English bellan to roar — more at bellow

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1508, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

bleat

1 of 2 verb

ˈblēt 

1

: to utter a bleat or similar sound

2

: to speak in a bleating way

bleat

2 of 2 noun

: the characteristic cry of a sheep or goat