whirl

American  

[hwurl, wurl] / ʰwɜrl, wɜrl /

verb (used without object)

whirls, present (3rd person singular) whirled, past participle, past whirling present participle

1. to turn around, spin, or rotate rapidly.

   The merry-go-round whirled noisily.

   Synonyms:

   pirouette, gyrate

2. to turn about or aside quickly.

   He whirled and faced his pursuers.

3. to move, travel, or be carried rapidly along.

   She whirled along the freeway in her new car.

4. to feel as though spinning rapidly; reel as from dizziness.

   My head began to whirl.

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verb (used with object)

whirls, present (3rd person singular) whirled, past participle, past whirling present participle

1. to cause to turn around, spin, or rotate rapidly.

   Synonyms:

   wheel, twirl, revolve

2. to send, drive, or carry in a circular or curving course.

3. to drive, send, or carry along with great or dizzying rapidity.

4. Obsolete. to hurl.

noun

1. the act of whirling; rapid rotation or gyration.

   Synonyms:

   revolution, spin

2. a whirling movement; quick turn or swing.

3. a short drive, run, walk, or the like; spin.

4. something that whirls; a whirling current or mass.

5. a rapid round of events, affairs, etc..

   a whirl of meetings, conferences, and business lunches.

6. a state marked by dizziness or a dizzying succession of feelings, thoughts, etc.

7. an attempt or trial, especially one undertaken tentatively or experimentally.

   Even if you don't agree with my plan, won't you give it a whirl?

   Synonyms:

   whack, fling, go, try

8. Machinery. whip.

whirl British  

/ wɜːl /

verb

1. to spin, turn, or revolve or cause to spin, turn, or revolve

2. (intr) to turn around or away rapidly

3. (intr) to have a spinning sensation, as from dizziness, etc

4. to move or drive or be moved or driven at high speed

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noun

1. the act or an instance of whirling; swift rotation or a rapid whirling movement

2. a condition of confusion or giddiness

   her accident left me in a whirl

3. a swift round, as of events, meetings, etc

4. a tumult; stir

5. informal a brief trip, dance, etc

6. informal to attempt or give a trial to something

whirl Idioms  

1. see give something a whirl.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• whirling
  adjective
• unwhirled
  adjective
• outwhirl
  verb (used with object)
• whirlingly
  adverb
• whirler
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have whirled
  perfect
• has whirled
  perfect 3rd person singular
• are whirling
  progressive
• have been whirling
  perfect progressive
• has been whirling
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• am whirling
  progressive 1st person singular
• whirling
  participle
• is whirling
  progressive 3rd person singular
• whirls
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had whirled
  perfect
• was whirling
  progressive singular
• were whirling
  progressive plural
• had been whirling
  perfect progressive
• whirled
  participle
• whirled
  simple

Future

• will whirl
  simple
• will have whirled
  perfect
• will be whirling
  progressive
• will have been whirling
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of whirl

1250–1300; Middle English whirlen < Old Norse hvirfla to whirl, akin to Old English hwyrflung turning, revolving, hwyrfel circuit; see whorl

Explanation

A whirl is a quick spin, and when something whirls, it rotates fast. You can also use it to mean "a try." Hang-gliding? Snake-charming? "Sure," you say. "I'll give it a whirl." Both whirl and spin are words that mean "turn in circles" but that have also come to mean trying something briefly––you might take a car for a spin or take a turn hiking in the Himalayas. All imply an attitude so free-wheeling, so easy, so devil-may-care that it might make your head spin. Or whirl.

Example Sentences

As a result, the fire whirl consumed oil more rapidly while producing significantly less pollution.

From Science Daily • Jun. 5, 2026

Keck Education Center, which will be overrun by excitable children who will get a big kick out of the fountain’s inviting whirl and swirl.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

In Ada Louise Huxtable’s architecture writing, buildings whirl off their footings and built interiors entice us to dance.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

During a whirl of recent diplomatic engagements, Takaichi played K-pop on the drums with South Korea's president and snapped selfies with Italy's prime minister, casting herself as hard-working, relatable and a symbol of change.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

I drop the bottle into the trash and whirl around.

From "Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero" by Kelly J. Baptist

Related Words

• gyrate
• pirouette
• pivot
• revolve
• rotate
• swirl
• twirl
• whir