swirl

American  

[swurl] / swɜrl /

verb (used without object)

• swirls,
  present (3rd person singular)
• swirled,
  past participle,  past
• swirling
  present participle

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)

• swirls,
  present (3rd person singular)
• swirled,
  past participle,  past
• swirling
  present participle

1. to cause to whirl; twist.

noun

• swirls
  plural

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• swirls
  plural

Participles

• swirling
  present
• swirled
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• swirl
  simple
• swirls
  simple
• have swirled
  perfect
• has swirled
  perfect
• am swirling
  progressive
• are swirling
  progressive
• is swirling
  progressive
• have been swirling
  perfect progressive
• has been swirling
  perfect progressive

Past

• swirled
  simple
• had swirled
  perfect
• was swirling
  progressive
• were swirling
  progressive
• had been swirling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will swirl
  simple
• will have swirled
  perfect
• will be swirling
  progressive
• will have been swirling
  perfect progressive

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

See Examples For:

swirl swirls swirled swirling

The move comes as questions about prediction markets and debanking swirl.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 17, 2026

IM-3 is expected to become the first mission to explore the surface of a lunar swirl, allowing robotic systems and deployed instruments to investigate this still mysterious region in greater detail.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 11, 2026

Just before serving, pipe a generous swirl of citrus-whipped ricotta onto each cooled pastry.

From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026

Rumors swirl as to what will emerge when the egg hatches: Life-size bronze?

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

“I’m good,” I say, trying to act casual even though their conversation is making my thoughts start to swirl.

From "Zara’s Rules for Record-Breaking Fun" by Hena Khan

Hockney’s largest canvas — at more than 7 feet tall and 20 feet wide — is filled with deft lines and Hockney’s signature swirls.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 12, 2026

Also looking to art history is Colette LaVette, whose canvases at Gillian Jason ape rococo stylings in swirls of impressionistic paint.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026

On the island's downwind side, the satellite captured von Kármán vortex streets, which look like repeating swirls spinning in opposite directions.

From Science Daily ● May 6, 2026

But start folding in coconut shreds, caramel swirls, candy pieces, cookie dough, marshmallows?

From Salon ● Mar. 5, 2026

Fishtail’s square bag was beaded all over in swirls of green vines, leaves, and glowing crimson flowers that popped out vividly against the white beads of the background.

From "The Birchbark House" by Louise Erdrich

Since the beginning of the trial, conspiracy theories about Patrick Clancy have swirled online, including some speculating about his involvement.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

As speculation about McConnell has swirled, Beshear has been inundated with questions regarding the senator’s absence.

From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2026

Questions swirled around whether players would decline the visit this year after it did not happen during a scheduled visit to Washington in April.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026

Questions swirled while Trump attended a G7 summit in France, with the wording of the so-called memorandum of understanding still unclear.

From Barron's ● Jun. 15, 2026

Ribbons of pink and green, yellow and purple and blue swirled in the night sky in a miraculous display.

From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood

At a mid-range seafood restaurant in Taipei, packed with locals under swirling orange artwork, a squat robot server rolled between the tables ferrying dishes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

Glowing magenta, she twirled above what looked to be a rising river, a physical representation of the swirling, engulfing thoughts that anxiety can provoke as she performed the song by the same name.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026

With questions swirling around whether the stay is permanent, reports have noted the couple intend to keep their existing homes in California and Portugal.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

Footage captured on Sunday in Greenwich Park, south-east London, showed a small whirlwind, or dust devil, swirling around people.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

As if he’d been thrust into a scene in the bottom of this swirling shadow.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Related Words

• boil
• churn
• roil
• twirl
• whirl