swirl
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
noun
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a swirling movement; whirl; eddy.
-
a twist, as of hair around the head or of trimming on a hat.
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any curving, twisting line, shape, or form.
-
confusion; disorder.
verb
-
to turn or cause to turn in a twisting spinning fashion
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(intr) to be dizzy; swim
my head was swirling
noun
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a whirling or spinning motion, esp in water
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a whorl; curl
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the act of swirling or stirring
-
dizzy confusion
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
swirlsimple
-
swirlssimple
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have swirledperfect
-
has swirledperfect
-
am swirlingprogressive
-
are swirlingprogressive
-
is swirlingprogressive
-
have been swirlingperfect progressive
-
has been swirlingperfect progressive
Past
-
swirledsimple
-
had swirledperfect
-
was swirlingprogressive
-
were swirlingprogressive
-
had been swirlingperfect progressive
Future
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."
Vocabulary lists containing swirl
"Joyas Voladoras" by Brian Doyle
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Unit 4: Powerful Openings
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"The Earth Under Sky Bear's Feet"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
For a low-effort breakfast, mix this Cinnamon Swirl Cake frosting a day in advance.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 2, 2024
Swirl the pan, and then add about 1/3-cup scoops of the potato mixture.
From Washington Times • Dec. 4, 2023
Scale, get nutritional information and a printer-friendly version of Brownies With Tahini Swirl recipe here.
From Washington Post • Dec. 7, 2022
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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
