Meaning

(intransitive) To rotate, revolve, spin or turn rapidly..

Definitions by Sense

1. (intransitive) To rotate, revolve, spin or turn rapidly.
2. (intransitive) To have a sensation of spinning or reeling.
3. (transitive) To make something or someone whirl.
4. (transitive) To remove or carry quickly with, or as with, a revolving motion; to snatch.
5. An act of whirling.
6. Something that whirls, such as a whirlwind.
7. A confused tumult.
8. A rapid series of events.

Example Sentences

The dancer whirled across the stage, stopped, and whirled around to face the audience.

The house whirled around two or three times and rose slowly through the air. Dorothy felt as if she were going up in a balloon.

My head is whirling after all that drink.

My brained ^([sic]) whirled as he went on, but yet there was a fearful impression that the worst was not told.

The dancer whirled his partner round on her toes.

He whirls his sword around without delay.

See, see the chariot, and those rushing wheels, / That whirled the prophet up at Chebar flood.

To-night the winds begin to rise ⁠And roar from yonder dropping day: ⁠The last red leaf is whirl’d away, The rooks are blown about the skies; […]

Word Forms

• whirls
• whirling
• whirled

Synonyms for whirl

Related Words

When Should You Use Whirl?

Use whirl when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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