swirl

American  

[swurl] / swɜrl /

verb (used without object)

1. to move around or along with a whirling motion; whirl; eddy.

2. to be dizzy or giddy, as the head.

   Synonyms:

   spin, reel

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verb (used with object)

1. to cause to whirl; twist.

noun

1. a swirling movement; whirl; eddy.

2. a twist, as of hair around the head or of trimming on a hat.

3. any curving, twisting line, shape, or form.

4. confusion; disorder.

swirl British  

/ swɜːl /

verb

1. to turn or cause to turn in a twisting spinning fashion

2. (intr) to be dizzy; swim

   my head was swirling

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noun

1. a whirling or spinning motion, esp in water

2. a whorl; curl

3. the act of swirling or stirring

4. dizzy confusion

Other Word Forms

• outswirl
  verb (used with object)
• swirling
  adjective
• swirlingly
  adverb
• swirly
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of swirl

1375–1425; late Middle English (north) < Scandinavian; compare Norwegian svirla; cognate with Dutch zwirrelen to whirl, German (dial.) schwirrlen to totter; all < a root *swir- (whence Danish svirre to whirl, German schwirren to whir) + -l- frequentative suffix

Explanation

To swirl is to turn in circles or spirals, the way a leaf caught in a whirlpool swirls, or a toy duck swirls in the bathtub as you empty the water out. Smoke might swirl up from your campfire, keeping the mosquitos that swirl through the air nearby from biting you. Or you can swirl on a carnival ride that spins you in circles until you step back onto the ground and the world swirls for a while, until you regain your balance. Swirl is a noun, too, as in a swirl of dust. It was originally Scottish for "whirlpool."

Example Sentences

They were doused in a fragrance called Caramel Swirl, a mashup of notes that they liked because it remind them of Mrs. Butterworth’s syrup.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 8, 2025

Swirl it onto a plate beneath crispy chicken breasts or charred broccoli.

From Salon • Jun. 5, 2025

But the music mogul was convinced otherwise after he met with Swirl Films producers Jay Allen and Nikki Byles, who told him the documentary would focus on the full backstory.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 14, 2024

Swirl to coat the pan, then crack an egg in each quadrant.

From Washington Times • Jun. 16, 2023

To reach it they had to follow the course of the Swirl, which ran through the Squire's grounds.

From Adventures of Mr. Verdant Green by Bede, Cuthbert

Related Words

• boil
• churn
• roil
• twirl
• whirl