whir
verb (used without object)
to go, fly, revolve, or otherwise move quickly with a humming or buzzing sound.
were whirring
-
past progressiveof whir.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
"The revolving doors that helped the team dissolve into nothing were whirring around ferociously."
From BBC ● May 18, 2023
Neurons were whirring: it was time to paint.
From The New Yorker ● May 27, 2019
It mattered not whether the cameras were whirring.
From Slate ● Feb. 16, 2012
Messrs. Walker, Ickes and Hopkins solemnly protested that they were whirring together like clockwork, but their grating, grinding, creeping progress gave them away.
From Time Magazine Archive
Now, as we rushed headlong, the gentle curve received us from space to substance quite gradually, until we were whirring forward wholly on the latter, my luggage suffering the brunt of the friction.
From At a Winter's Fire by Bernard Edward Joseph Capes
