whirl

[hwurl, wurl]

See more synonyms for whirl on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)

to turn around, spin, or rotate rapidly: The merry-go-round whirled noisily.
to turn about or aside quickly: He whirled and faced his pursuers.
to move, travel, or be carried rapidly along: She whirled along the freeway in her new car.

to feel as though spinning rapidly; reel as from dizziness: My head began to whirl.

verb (used with object)

to cause to turn around, spin, or rotate rapidly.
to send, drive, or carry in a circular or curving course.
to drive, send, or carry along with great or dizzying rapidity.
Obsolete. to hurl.

noun

the act of whirling; rapid rotation or gyration.
a whirling movement; quick turn or swing.
a short drive, run, walk, or the like; spin.
something that whirls; a whirling current or mass.
a rapid round of events, affairs, etc.: a whirl of meetings, conferences, and business lunches.
a state marked by dizziness or a dizzying succession of feelings, thoughts, etc.
an attempt or trial, especially one undertaken tentatively or experimentally: Even if you don't agree with my plan, won't you give it a whirl?
Machinery. whip(def 26).

Origin of whirl

1250–1300; Middle English whirlen < Old Norse hvirfla to whirl, akin to Old English hwyrflung turning, revolving, hwyrfel circuit; see whorl

Related formswhirl·er, nounwhirl·ing·ly, adverbout·whirl, verb (used with object)un·whirled, adjective

Synonyms

See more synonyms for whirl on Thesaurus.com

1. gyrate, pirouette. 1, 5. revolve, twirl, wheel. 9. spin, revolution. 15. try, go, fling, whack.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for whirling

Contemporary Examples

But Liberty is always dipping his shoulder, whirling around.
The Story Behind Lee Marvin’s Liberty Valance Smile
Robert Ward
January 3, 2015
They all play a part in this whirling, well oiled machine, helping bring The Macallan to life.
Ester Elchies, The Estate Built By Whiskey
December 10, 2014
But he was a whirling dervish of energy and could outwork his critics.
From The Square Deal to The New Deal: The Overlapping Political Identities of TR and FDR
John Avlon
September 9, 2014
Back in July, a whirling household appliance caught her by the weave.
Ellen Sings ‘The Fox,’ Ride on an Eagle’s Wing & More Viral Videos
Julian E. Wright
September 21, 2013
Bailey got the job and proceeded to “work like a whirling dervish.”
CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Celebrates 2012 Award Winners
Robin Givhan
November 14, 2012

Historical Examples

But do give me a moment, everything is all so whirling and hazy.
The Spenders
Harry Leon Wilson
The waves are whirling their boat past the rocks into the shallows.
The Dramatic Values in Plautus
Wilton Wallace Blancke
But his head was whirling round, the blood was gushing from his brow, his temple, his mouth.
The White Company
Arthur Conan Doyle
The Diné, whirling on his heel, met the arrow with his throat, and pitched choking.
The Trail Book
Mary Austin
I can see him yet, scowling at me and whirling the loop over his head ready to throw.
Chip, of the Flying U
B. M. Bower

British Dictionary definitions for whirling

whirl

verb

to spin, turn, or revolve or cause to spin, turn, or revolve
(intr) to turn around or away rapidly
(intr) to have a spinning sensation, as from dizziness, etc
to move or drive or be moved or driven at high speed

noun

the act or an instance of whirling; swift rotation or a rapid whirling movement
a condition of confusion or giddinessher accident left me in a whirl
a swift round, as of events, meetings, etc
a tumult; stir
informal a brief trip, dance, etc
give something a whirl informal to attempt or give a trial to something

Derived Formswhirler, nounwhirling, adjectivewhirlingly, adverb

Word Origin

C13: from Old Norse hvirfla to turn about; related to Old High German wirbil whirlwind

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for whirling

whirl

n.

early 15c., "flywheel of a spindle," from whirl (v.). The meaning "act of whirling" is recorded from late 15c.; figurative sense of "confused activity" is recorded from 1550s. Colloquial sense of "tentative attempt" is attested from 1884, American English.

whirl

v.

late 13c., probably from Old Norse hvirfla "to go round, spin," related to hvirfill "circle, ring, crown," and to Old English hweorfan "to turn" (see whir). Related: Whirled; whirling. Whirlybird "helicopter" is from 1951.

Idioms and Phrases with whirling

whirl

see give something a whirl.

whirl

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Synonyms

Examples from the Web for whirling

Contemporary Examples

But Liberty is always dipping his shoulder, whirling around.

They all play a part in this whirling, well oiled machine, helping bring The Macallan to life.

But he was a whirling dervish of energy and could outwork his critics.

Back in July, a whirling household appliance caught her by the weave.

Bailey got the job and proceeded to “work like a whirling dervish.”

Historical Examples

But do give me a moment, everything is all so whirling and hazy.

The waves are whirling their boat past the rocks into the shallows.

But his head was whirling round, the blood was gushing from his brow, his temple, his mouth.

The Diné, whirling on his heel, met the arrow with his throat, and pitched choking.

I can see him yet, scowling at me and whirling the loop over his head ready to throw.

whirl

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for whirling

whirl

n.

whirl

v.

Idioms and Phrases with whirling

whirl

Origin of whirl