whoosh

American  

[hwoosh, hwoosh, woosh, woosh] / ʰwuʃ, ʰwʊʃ, wuʃ, wʊʃ /

Also woosh

noun

1. a loud, rushing noise, as of air or water.

   a great whoosh as the door opened.

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verb (used without object)

1. to move swiftly with a gushing or hissing noise.

   gusts of wind whooshing through the trees.

verb (used with object)

1. to move (an object, a person, etc.) with a whooshing motion or sound.

   The storm whooshed the waves over the road.

whoosh British  

/ wʊʃ /

noun

1. a hissing or rushing sound

2. a rush of emotion

   a whoosh of happiness

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verb

1. (intr) to make or move with a hissing or rushing sound

Etymology

Origin of whoosh

First recorded in 1840–50; imitative

Example Sentences

And then whoosh — whatever the ball hit, it knocked down everything at once.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2026

No iPhone glows disturbed the darkness, just snores and the thud of wheels, the occasional whoosh of a passing train tilting us to one side.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 29, 2025

The sling whips over the top with a whoosh.

From Slate • Jul. 7, 2025

The oceanic whoosh of interstellar signals to which she’s been listening without cease for years suddenly shifts into something sharp and deliberate.

From New York Times • Mar. 21, 2024

The air was charged with the smack and whoosh of slapped pucks.

From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely

Related Words

• circle
• climb
• cross
• drift
• float
• flutter
• glide
• operate
• pilot
• reach
• rush
• sail
• shoot
• speed
• swoop
• take off
• travel