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verb

whiz

wihz
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Whiz (verb) means to move fast with a buzzing or hissing sound. Example: “The motorbike whizzed past us on the motorway.”

verb
1
To move fast with a buzzing or hissing sound.
"The motorbike whizzed past us on the motorway."
noun
1
A person remarkably skilled at something.
"She's a whiz at mental arithmetic."
"He was the office computer whiz, always the first one called for tech trouble."

How to use whiz

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the sound/motion of something zooming past, or an informal word for someone very talented at a task.

Common pairings
a whiz kid whiz past a maths whiz
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Word forms

Plural
whizzes
Third person singular
whizzes
Past tense
whizzed
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She's a _____ at mental arithmetic.

Etymology

An imitative word mimicking the hissing sound of something moving fast through the air; the "skilled person" sense likely grew out of the related phrase "whiz kid."

Related words

Frequently asked questions

What does “whiz” mean?
The word “whiz” means to move fast with a buzzing or hissing sound. In plain terms, either the sound/motion of something zooming past, or an informal word for someone very talented at a task.
How do you pronounce “whiz”?
“Whiz” is pronounced wihz (/wɪz/ in IPA).
How do you use “whiz” in a sentence?
Here is “whiz” used in a sentence: “The motorbike whizzed past us on the motorway.”
What part of speech is “whiz”?
Depending on how it is used, “whiz” can be a verb and a noun.
How many meanings does “whiz” have?
“Whiz” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to move fast with a buzzing or hissing sound.

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