whaling

1 of 2

noun

whal·​ing ˈ(h)wā-liŋ How to pronounce whaling (audio)
Synonyms of whalingnext
: the occupation of catching and extracting commercial products from whales

whaling

2 of 2

present participle of whale entry 2, whale entry 3

Examples of whaling in a Sentence

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Noun
Grab a couple of cruisers to bike to the beach and back to skip on cab fares, and don’t miss the whaling museum for a bit of history. — Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026 Nantucket’s Main Street is lined with historic homes dating back to the island’s whaling days. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2026 What to do nearby Once a thriving whaling port, Sag Harbor is now well-regarded as one of the toniest destinations on Long Island's East End. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Sep. 2026 Home of a fur seal trade leading to an almost extinction of seals, a whaling station, and then many volcanic eruptions leading to the destruction of scientific stations, this island looks like it is cursed. — New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for whaling

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1688, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of whaling was in 1688

Phrases Containing whaling

Rhymes for whaling

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Browse Nearby Words

whale watch
whaling
whaling gun
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Cite this Entry

“Whaling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whaling. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on whaling

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for whaling

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about whaling

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