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

Even the sound mix is brutally naturalistic, with the dialogue fighting to be heard over the whoosh of traffic in the exterior scenes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 8, 2026

As they sweep past, their beating wings whoosh in unison.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 22, 2025

The sling whips over the top with a whoosh.

From Slate • Jul. 7, 2025

“Maestro,” Bradley Cooper’s intimate portrait of Leonard Bernstein, takes flight with a terrific whoosh of exuberance.

From New York Times • Nov. 22, 2023

Just a soft, unfelt whoosh of wind, and then the blue light fades.

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Related Words

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