winkle
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
noun
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
winklesimple
-
winklessimple
-
have winkledperfect
-
has winkledperfect
-
are winklingprogressive
-
am winklingprogressive
-
is winklingprogressive
-
have been winklingperfect progressive
-
has been winklingperfect progressive
Past
-
winkledsimple
-
had winkledperfect
-
was winklingprogressive
-
were winklingprogressive
-
had been winklingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of winkle
First recorded in 1575–85; short for periwinkle 1
Vocabulary lists containing winkle
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"There were lots of phoney emails from people trying to winkle even just three pages, even just anything," she noted.
From BBC • Jan. 6, 2022
Composing a strategy to winkle out Steve Smith on a surface like this would drive any captain to distraction.
From The Guardian • Sep. 5, 2019
As with Revere’s ride, it can be hard to winkle out the truth.
From Economist • Jul. 20, 2017
“So that’s the kind of thing, I think the withholding of information is pretty important and for now for you to winkle it out of us in a Q&A would really blow it.”
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 14, 2015
Ned wished he were here now, to winkle the truth nut of this damnable book.
From "A Game of Thrones" by George R.R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
