twirl
Americanverb (used with object)
-
twirls,
present (3rd person singular)
-
twirled,
past participle, past
-
twirling
present participle
-
to cause to rotate rapidly; spin; revolve; whirl.
-
to twiddle.
to twirl my thumbs.
-
to wind idly, as about something.
verb (used without object)
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twirls,
present (3rd person singular)
-
twirled,
past participle, past
-
twirling
present participle
-
to rotate rapidly; whirl.
-
to turn quickly so as to face or point in another direction.
noun
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twirls
plural
-
an act or instance of twirling; spin; whirl.
-
something convoluted or having a spiral shape; coil; curl; convolution.
verb
-
to move or cause to move around rapidly and repeatedly in a circle
-
(tr) to twist, wind, or twiddle, often idly
she twirled her hair around her finger
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(intr; often foll by around or about) to turn suddenly to face another way
she twirled around angrily to face him
noun
-
an act of rotating or being rotated; whirl or twist
-
something wound around or twirled; coil
-
a written flourish or squiggle
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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twirlsimple
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twirlssimple
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have twirledperfect
-
has twirledperfect
-
am twirlingprogressive
-
are twirlingprogressive
-
is twirlingprogressive
-
have been twirlingperfect progressive
-
has been twirlingperfect progressive
Past
-
twirledsimple
-
had twirledperfect
-
was twirlingprogressive
-
were twirlingprogressive
-
had been twirlingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of twirl
Vocabulary lists containing twirl
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.
See Examples For:
"Fans are encouraged to be in their seats 20 minutes before kick-off, and to twirl the towels as Snoop walks on the pitch."
From Barron's ● Feb. 24, 2026
He has requested a sold-out crowd to be in their seats ahead of kick-off to twirl the complimentary towels – a staple action for supporters in American sport.
From BBC ● Feb. 24, 2026
I half expected a Snidely Whiplash twirl of the mustache or a Bertram Oleander sidewise glance and sneer.
From Salon ● Jan. 16, 2026
The glass tower — emerging from a cluster of angled columns — cinches inward at its waist, bulging outward again as it rises, like a figure leaning into a twirl.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 5, 2025
Before I reach Charlie, he strikes a pose and does an impressive dance twirl.
From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya
He twirls his glasses in his hand as he speaks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026
A bespectacled researcher who often twirls his curly hair, Amodei authors lengthy documents philosophizing about the importance of AI safety and is known for his deliberate approach to problem solving.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 3, 2026
Critics once dismissed Rajinikanth as a mere "Style King," known for his cigarette flicks, sunglass twirls, and punchy dialogues laced with wry humour.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2025
Each episode allows us to get to know more about them beyond a few quirks or twirls of the figurative mustache.
From Salon ● Dec. 26, 2024
August twirls Marlena around and then stops with her extended from the end of his straightened arm.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
She is friends with Greek pop star Konstantinos Argiros, who at a recent concert spotted her in the crowd chatting with Marafatsos and twirled her around to one of his hit songs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
Sure enough, as Wednesday’s game reached the fifth inning, a few dozen young men ran to the very back of Section 535, removed their shirts, twirled them over their heads, and chanted “Sell the team!”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 4, 2026
Clad in a black leather trench coat, the 42-year-old dictator twirled a cigarette as he reviewed lines of factory employees.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 4, 2026
Dancing to drums in downtown Yangon, the crowd of nationalist activists and saffron-robed monks twirled miniature national flags and toted banners denying accusations of ethnic cleansing being levelled at The Hague.
From Barron's ● Jan. 27, 2026
I twirled her crepe wool hair around in my fingers instead.
From "Root Magic" by Eden Royce
Meanwhile, those at the back of the “Clubhouse” tier danced freely in yards of open space, twirling, to the dismay of the onlooking VIP crowd.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
I was hired by our park district to teach baton twirling to young children in the city parks during the summer months.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026
The star appeared as an air stewardess, twirling her way through baggage reclaim while shrugging off a bevy of useless men – a surgeon, a priest, a magician, an astronaut.
From BBC ● Feb. 2, 2026
Diners were ushered into a grand, circular room, served by waiters dressed in "hanfu", and treated to an eight-act performance involving twirling dancers and emotive dialogue from actors.
From Barron's ● Nov. 14, 2025
Hanging from the cracked ceiling are light bulbs with slow, twirling blades.
From "Paradise on Fire" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
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