spin
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for spin, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To turn around quickly on an axis.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use spin
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English spinnan, "to spin thread" — the sense of twisting fibers into yarn came first, with "rotate" and "present with bias" developing later.
Full origin of spin →Frequently asked questions
What does “spin” mean?
The word “spin” means to turn around quickly on an axis. In plain terms, to rotate quickly, or, in media/politics, to present facts in a way that favors one side.
How do you pronounce “spin”?
“Spin” is pronounced spihn (/spɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “spin” in a sentence?
Here is “spin” used in a sentence: “The press office tried to spin the layoffs as a "restructuring.".”
What part of speech is “spin”?
Depending on how it is used, “spin” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “spin” come from?
The word “spin” comes from Old English. From Old English spinnan, "to spin thread" — the sense of twisting fibers into yarn came first, with "rotate" and "present with bias" developing later.
Is “spin” a common word?
“Spin” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “spin” have?
“Spin” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to turn around quickly on an axis.
What is the past tense of spin: spun or spinned?
The standard past tense and past participle of spin are both spun: "the wheel spun," "she has spun the dial." Spinned is not standard English. Spin is an irregular verb, so it does not take the regular -ed ending.
What is the difference between spin, rotate, and revolve?
All three describe circular motion, but spin means to turn around quickly on an axis, rotate means to turn on an axis at any speed, and revolve usually means to move in a path around something external, as the Earth revolves around the Sun. In everyday speech, spin implies speed that rotate does not.
Is spin a negative word in politics and media?
Usually, yes. When spin refers to presenting information in a biased way, it implies manipulation rather than neutral communication, so calling a statement spin suggests it distorts the truth. The people who craft such messaging are often pejoratively called spin doctors.