What does whiffing mean?
Whiffing most commonly describes the act of swinging at a ball and missing it, particularly in baseball, though it can also be used in cricket and other bat-and-ball games. The word often carries a mildly critical or humorous tone: a struggling batter is said to be “whiffing,” and an emphatic miss can leave both player and spectators feeling frustrated. In informal figurative use, whiffing means making a series of unsuccessful attempts or performing badly, as when someone misses questions in an interview or fails to meet expectations. The expression can sound playful when the failure is minor, but it is more negative when describing repeated or consequential mistakes. Whiffing is also occasionally used for taking a brief smell or for emitting an odor, although these senses are much less common than the sporting and figurative meanings. Overall, the word is especially useful for describing the conspicuous, repeated failure that comes from swinging boldly but connecting with nothing.
To swing at a ball and miss it, especially in baseball or cricket; informally, to fail or make repeated unsuccessful attempts.
"The hitter was whiffing badly and returned to the dugout after the first inning."
Characterized by a wild, unsuccessful, or badly mistimed swing.
"His whiffing swing failed to produce a single solid hit."
One swing, one syllable, and a power hitter is suddenly just “whiffing.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How whiffing is actually used
The baseball and cricket sense is descriptive but often mildly disparaging when referring to a batter's repeated misses. The figurative sense is informal and especially common in North American speech, where it can mean failing, missing an opportunity, or performing poorly.
Easily confused with whiffing
Whipping means striking with a whip, whereas whiffing usually means missing with a swing or failing informally.