whirl

[hwurl, wurl]

verb (used without object)

1. to turn around, spin, or rotate rapidly.

   The merry-go-round whirled noisily.

   Synonyms: pirouette, gyrate

2. to turn about or aside quickly.

   He whirled and faced his pursuers.

3. to move, travel, or be carried rapidly along.

   She whirled along the freeway in her new car.

4. to feel as though spinning rapidly; reel as from dizziness.

   My head began to whirl.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to turn around, spin, or rotate rapidly.

   Synonyms: wheel, twirl, revolve

2. to send, drive, or carry in a circular or curving course.

3. to drive, send, or carry along with great or dizzying rapidity.

4. Obsolete.,  to hurl.

noun

1. the act of whirling; rapid rotation or gyration.

   Synonyms: revolution, spin

2. a whirling movement; quick turn or swing.

3. a short drive, run, walk, or the like; spin.

4. something that whirls; a whirling current or mass.

5. a rapid round of events, affairs, etc..

   a whirl of meetings, conferences, and business lunches.

6. a state marked by dizziness or a dizzying succession of feelings, thoughts, etc.

7. an attempt or trial, especially one undertaken tentatively or experimentally.

   Even if you don't agree with my plan, won't you give it a whirl?

   Synonyms: whack, fling, go, try

8. Machinery.,  whip.

whirl

/ wɜːl /

verb

1. to spin, turn, or revolve or cause to spin, turn, or revolve

2. (intr) to turn around or away rapidly

3. (intr) to have a spinning sensation, as from dizziness, etc

4. to move or drive or be moved or driven at high speed

noun

1. the act or an instance of whirling; swift rotation or a rapid whirling movement

2. a condition of confusion or giddiness

   her accident left me in a whirl

3. a swift round, as of events, meetings, etc

4. a tumult; stir

5. informal,  a brief trip, dance, etc

6. informal,  to attempt or give a trial to something

Other Word Forms

• whirler noun
• whirlingly adverb
• outwhirl verb (used with object)
• unwhirled adjective
• whirling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of whirl¹

1250–1300; Middle English whirlen < Old Norse hvirfla to whirl, akin to Old English hwyrflung turning, revolving, hwyrfel circuit; whorl

Word History and Origins

Origin of whirl¹

C13: from Old Norse hvirfla to turn about; related to Old High German wirbil whirlwind

Idioms and Phrases

see give something a whirl.

Example Sentences

The implication is that we’ve not yet been whirled over the rainbow.

From Los Angeles Times

In 1957 they created the so-called Solar Do-Nothing Machine, which harnessed solar energy to power an aluminum toy that joyously whirled and spun.

From Los Angeles Times

Yet, as a longtime scholar of Russian and Soviet history, I believe that the diplomatic whirl has revealed glimpses of what a future peace deal may look like.

From Salon

Sergei's first week of freedom has passed in a whirl of activity.

From BBC

In the arms of another, he glanced and smiled as he whirled by.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• gyrate 
• pirouette 
• pivot 
• revolve 
• rotate 
• swirl 
• twirl 
• whir