whisk

1 of 2

noun

1
: a quick light brushing or whipping motion
2
a
: a usually wire kitchen utensil used for beating food by hand
b
: a flexible bunch (as of twigs, feathers, or straw) attached to a handle for use as a brush

whisk

2 of 2

verb

whisked; whisking; whisks

intransitive verb

: to move nimbly and quickly

transitive verb

1
: to move or convey briskly
whisked the children off to bed
2
: to mix or fluff up by or as if by beating with a whisk
whisk egg whites
3
: to brush or wipe off lightly

Examples of whisk in a Sentence

Noun with a whisk of the broom, the dirt was gone Verb Whisk the eggs with the cream until the mixture thickens. She whisked the children off to bed. The taxi whisked me to the airport. The waitress whisked my plate away before I was finished eating.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Lift your whisk to the surface of the foam and continue to whisk gently to create a microfoam. Kate Kassin, Bon Appétit, 26 Feb. 2024 Inserting a dough hook or a whisk requires a simple click and turn, and adding an attachment to the front face uses the same motion. Anna Kramer, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2024 Remove bowl from mixer; finish whipping by hand with a balloon whisk until cream thickens a bit more and holds its shape. Bill Daley, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 The British seized four of the objects—the whisk, chair and bracelets—on February 5, 1874. Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2024 Also included are a double-sided scraper beater, flat beater, dough hook, wire whisk, splash guard, pouring shield, and spatula. Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 14 Nov. 2023 Some hand blenders move even more into the territory of other tools, offering interchangeable blades or attachments such as whisks and choppers. Becky Krystal, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 Add the butter and whisk until incorporated, then stir in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Christopher Kimball, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2024 Among the shop’s offerings are high-quality knives and saucepans, an eclectic assortment of cake stands and unusual gadgets like crepe spreaders, dough whisks and citrus juicers. Natalie Wallington, Kansas City Star, 30 Jan. 2024
Verb
In a mixing bowl, add yogurt and whisk in the blended jalapeño mixture until fully incorporated. Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 Prepare sauce: In a small bowl, whisk to combine milk and egg yolk. Micah A Leal, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 On a random note: Long before those assignments, Chuck was pepper-sprayed covering the disturbances in Miami the morning Elián Gonzalez was whisked away by federal authorities. Charles Rabin, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024 Matsumoto and his team set about restoring the trails, and now cyclists are whisked to the summit only to weave their way down, wheels kissing the earth of rejuvenated paths that slice through whispers of bamboo forests and glide past towns steeped in history. Jonny Bierman, Vogue, 27 Feb. 2024 After appearing to sacrifice himself to save his community, Rick was rescued by his mysterious sometime ally, Jadis (Pollyanna McIntosh), and whisked away by helicopter to the Civic Republic, a huge civilization ruled by a military junta known as the CRM. Jessica Liese, Variety, 14 Feb. 2024 Too rare or too well, either way, servers whisk steaks back to the kitchen upon request with absolute understanding, a grave affirmational nod. Rita Bullwinkel, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2024 Lift your whisk to the surface of the foam and continue to whisk gently to create a microfoam. Kate Kassin, Bon Appétit, 26 Feb. 2024 That’s why the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman is working with private jet charter company Wheels Up to whisk couples away. Devorah Lev-Tov, Robb Report, 13 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'whisk.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English wisk, probably of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse visk wisp; akin to Old English wiscian to plait

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of whisk was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near whisk

Cite this Entry

“Whisk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whisk. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

whisk

1 of 2 noun
ˈhwisk How to pronounce whisk (audio)
ˈwisk
1
: a quick brush or sweep
a whisk of the hand
2
: a small kitchen utensil used for beating food
3

whisk

2 of 2 verb
1
: to move easily and quickly
squirrels whisked up the trees
2
: to move or carry briskly
whisked the children off to bed
3
: to mix or fluff up by or as if by beating with a whisk
whisk eggs
4
: to brush or wipe off lightly
whisk the lint off your skirt

More from Merriam-Webster on whisk

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