whoosh

American  

[hwoosh, hwoosh, woosh, woosh] / ʰwuʃ, ʰwʊʃ, wuʃ, wʊʃ /

Also woosh

noun

1. a loud, rushing noise, as of air or water.

   a great whoosh as the door opened.

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verb (used without object)

1. to move swiftly with a gushing or hissing noise.

   gusts of wind whooshing through the trees.

verb (used with object)

1. to move (an object, a person, etc.) with a whooshing motion or sound.

   The storm whooshed the waves over the road.

whoosh British  

/ wʊʃ /

noun

1. a hissing or rushing sound

2. a rush of emotion

   a whoosh of happiness

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verb

1. (intr) to make or move with a hissing or rushing sound

Etymology

Origin of whoosh

First recorded in 1840–50; imitative

Example Sentences

“We are not seeing a big whoosh in the economy. We are seeing a strengthening recovery. It’s a cyclical recovery that is eating away at spare capacity from a cyclical low point,” Conway said.

From The Wall Street Journal

Now he aimed carefully and sent the ball whooshing through the net.

From Literature

It was perfect for whooshing a girl and an iguana over bumps and dips and splashing them into the pool at the bottom.

From Literature

And then whoosh — whatever the ball hit, it knocked down everything at once.

From Los Angeles Times

His voice came out in a whoosh of air.

From Literature

Related Words

• circle
• climb
• cross
• drift
• float
• flutter
• glide
• operate
• pilot
• reach
• rush
• sail
• shoot
• speed
• swoop
• take off
• travel