verb
whirl
wurl
Whirl (verb) means to spin or turn around quickly. Example: “The dancers whirled across the floor to the music.”
verb
1
To spin or turn around quickly.
"The dancers whirled across the floor to the music."
"Leaves whirled around in the autumn wind."
noun
1
A rapid spinning motion, or a confused, busy flurry of activity.
"Her mind was a whirl of anxious thoughts before the interview."
"The city was a whirl of noise and colour during the festival."
How to use whirl
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo spin quickly, or a state of rapid, confusing activity.
Common pairings
a whirl of activity
give it a whirl
whirl around
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Word forms
- Plural
- whirls
- Third person singular
- whirls
- Past tense
- whirled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dancers _____ across the floor to the music.
Etymology
From Middle English whirlen, related to Old English hweorfan, "to turn" — the same root that eventually gave English the word "wharf".
Related words
Rhymes for whirl
See all rhymes for whirl →Frequently asked questions
What does “whirl” mean?
The word “whirl” means to spin or turn around quickly. In plain terms, to spin quickly, or a state of rapid, confusing activity.
How do you pronounce “whirl”?
“Whirl” is pronounced wurl (/(h)wɝl/ in IPA).
How do you use “whirl” in a sentence?
Here is “whirl” used in a sentence: “The dancers whirled across the floor to the music.”
What part of speech is “whirl”?
Depending on how it is used, “whirl” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “whirl” come from?
The word “whirl” comes from Old English. From Middle English whirlen, related to Old English hweorfan, "to turn" — the same root that eventually gave English the word "wharf".
How many meanings does “whirl” have?
“Whirl” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to spin or turn around quickly.
