bleated; bleating; bleats
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
: to utter in a bleating manner
bleater
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
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
Tim Ecott, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 May 2023
Danielle Brooks asks, speaking for all of us after a pink sheep bleats a greeting.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2024
Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 24 Oct. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for bleat 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Their bleating cry is as much the music of these green mountains as the shrill call of the oystercatchers, the Faroes' noisy national bird.
—Tim Ecott, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 May 2023
Danielle Brooks asks, speaking for all of us after a pink sheep bleats a greeting.
—Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2024
Noun
Use calls, such as bleats, grunts, snort-wheezes, grunt-snort-wheezes, and more.
—Josh Honeycutt, Outdoor Life, 24 Oct. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for bleat
Dictionary Entries Near bleat
Cite this Entry
“Bleat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bleat. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bleat
1 of 2 verb1
: 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share