whirl

whirl

verb

Definition of WHIRL

1

to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly <whirled the chocolate syrup into the milk with a spoon>

Synonyms agitate, churn, swirl, wash, whirl

Related Words beat, paddle, whip, whisk; reel, shake, wheel

2

to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis <the figure skater whirled his partner with effortless grace>

Synonyms pivot, revolve, roll, rotate, spin, swing, swirl, swivel, twirl, twist, wheel, whirl

Related Words screw, unscrew; twiddle; coil, crank, reel, wind; circulate

3

to move in circles around an axis or center <the gambler held his breath as the roulette wheel whirled>

Synonyms gyrate, pinwheel, pirouette, revolve, roll, rotate, turn, twirl, wheel, whirl

Related Words coil, curl, curve, round, spiral, swirl, twine, twist, wind; circle, circulate, encircle, orbit, ring; pivot, swivel

4

to proceed or move quickly <cars whirling by on the highway>

Synonyms barrel, belt, blast, blaze, blow, bolt, bomb [slang], bowl, breeze, bundle, bustle, buzz, cannonball, careen, career, chase, course, crack (on), dash, drive, fly, hare, hasten, hie, highball, hotfoot (it), hump, hurl, hurtle, hustle, jet, jump, motor, nip, pelt, race, ram, rip, rocket, run, rush, rustle, scoot, scurry, scuttle, shoot, speed, step, tear, travel, trot, whirl, whisk, zip, zoom

Related Words beetle, dart, flit, scamper, scud, scuffle; stampede, streak, whiz (or whizz); gallop, jog, sprint; accelerate, quicken, step out; catch up, fast-forward, outpace, outrun, outstrip, overtake; arrow, beeline

Near Antonyms dally, dawdle, dillydally, drag, hang (around or out), lag, linger, loiter, poke, tarry; amble, lumber, plod, saunter, shuffle, stroll; decelerate, slow (down or up)

Antonyms crawl, creep, poke

5

to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around <my mind whirled from all of the excitement>

Synonyms reel, swim, turn, whirl

Related Words swirl

Near Antonyms calm, collect; settle, steady