whirlwind

American  

[hwurl-wind, wurl-] / ˈʰwɜrlˌwɪnd, ˈwɜrl- /

noun

• whirlwinds
  plural

1. Meteorology. a relatively small mass of air rotating rapidly around a more or less vertical axis and simultaneously advancing over land or sea: specific categories of whirlwind include dust devil, dust whirl, tornado, and waterspout.

   The sails were carried up to the mastheads by the force of the whirlwind.

2. anything resembling a whirlwind, as in violent action or destructive force.

   a fiery whirlwind of shrapnel.

3. someone or something characterized by great energy or swiftness, often with an atmosphere of chaos.

   a staff of three do-nothings and one whirlwind; a whirlwind of activity at the stock exchange.

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adjective

1. like a whirlwind, as in speed or force.

   a whirlwind visit to New York.

   Synonyms:

   impulsive, hasty, breakneck, headlong

verb (used without object)

1. to move or travel quickly.

   You can't just whirlwind in and out of their lives and expect them to be OK with that.

idioms

1. (sow the wind and) reap the whirlwind, to suffer the penalties for one's misdeeds. Hosea 8:7.

whirlwind British  

/ ˈwɜːlˌwɪnd /

noun

1. a column of air whirling around and towards a more or less vertical axis of low pressure, which moves along the land or ocean surface

2. 1. a motion or course resembling this, esp in rapidity

   2. ( as modifier )

      a whirlwind romance

3. an impetuously active person

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• whirlwinds
  plural

Etymology

Origin of whirlwind

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old Norse hvirfilvindr; cognate with German Wirbelwind

Explanation

You can describe a tornado — a swirling vortex of air — as a powerful whirlwind, which is literally wind that whirls around in a narrow upright tube shape as it moves over the ground. Some kinds of whirlwinds cause terrible destruction as they sweep across the Earth's surface, sucking cars and trees into the pull of their spinning funnels. People often use this word figuratively, like describing a hectic or fast-paced vacation as a "whirlwind tour." The word whirlwind itself is thought to be modeled on the Old Norse word hvirfilvindr.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

whirlwind whirlwinds

Today, AI carries its own whirlwind of change.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 11, 2026

The film follows the whirlwind, two-month career of The Wonders, a group so replacement-level that we first meet them arguing over “The” band names that are already taken.

From Salon ● Oct. 4, 2026

Times columnist Amy Kaufman, in a 2024 article assessing the cultural impact of the whirlwind romance between Taylor Swift and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026

What followed was a series of whirlwind dates - lunches, dinners, sightseeing and shopping trips.

From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026

The steel clattered on the sidewalk as the whirlwind rose into the night sky.

From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda

Videos shared on social media showed massive whirlwinds sweeping through Union City, and large chunks of debris and dust flying across a car park in the city of Three Rivers.

From BBC ● Mar. 7, 2026

American shale’s placid responses to energy whirlwinds are becoming an enduring feature of the U.S. oil industry.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 4, 2026

Mars is constantly swept by winds that lift fine dust into spinning whirlwinds known as dust devils.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 29, 2025

The couple share joint custody of their children, though the split sent whirlwinds of tabloid drama their way.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2024

All around him the wind swirled and eddied, spinning snow into whirlwinds of wintery blankness.

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley

Related Words

• dust devil
• tornado
• waterspout