whiz
1 Americanverb (used without object)
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to make a humming, buzzing, or hissing sound, as an object passing swiftly through the air.
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to move or rush with such a sound.
The angry hornets whizzed by in a cloud.
noun
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Informal. a person who is quite good at a particular activity, in a certain field, etc..
She's a whiz at math.
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the sound of a whizzing object.
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a swift movement producing such a sound.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of whiz1
1540–50; imitative; cf. fizz
Origin of whiz2
By shortening
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.
As four astronauts whiz toward a flyby of the Moon, looking out for them are mission control experts using cutting-edge technology and lessons learned from the Apollo program 50 years ago.
From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026
For the first coaching hire in more than a decade, the Seahawks were convinced that 36-year-old defensive whiz Mike Macdonald could return them to the top of the sport.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 5, 2026
Vincent was a first-generation Indian immigrant and dot-com whiz kid.
From Slate • Jan. 13, 2026
Political nous is the most important box to tick, Toms said, because CEO Elhedery—previously the bank’s chief financial officer—is seen more as a numbers whiz.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 2, 2025
The Belle apartments whirr with activity as palace guards swarm the halls, and post-balloons whiz in and out.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
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.
