eddy

1 of 2

noun

ed·​dy ˈe-dē 

plural eddies

1

a

: a current of water or air running contrary to the main current

especially : a circular current : whirlpool

b

: something moving similarly

2

: a contrary or circular current (as of thought or policy)

eddy

2 of 2

verb

eddied; eddying

transitive verb

: to cause to move in an eddy

intransitive verb

: to move in an eddy or in the manner of an eddy

Examples of eddy in a Sentence

Noun

The boat was caught in a powerful eddy.

Verb

The wind gusted and eddied around us.

The waves swirled and eddied against the pier.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

After divorcing his ex-husband several years ago, the eddies of his relational whirlwinds have slowed, and the currents of his music career have gathered pace. —Jonathan Horwitz, Oc Register, 20 June 2025

Rainbow sprinkles coat the outside of a large vanilla cake, with eddies of rainbow icing, coated in edible glitter, lining the top. —Sophie Levenson, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2025

Verb

Moses’s book eddies around with the energy of someone reporting back from a very long and strange evening clicking through Wikipedia links, enjoying every chance to add a tangent. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2025

The Super Bowl was the leviathan in whose eddying wake the pilot fish feed. —Nick Paumgarten, The New Yorker, 3 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English (Scots) ydy, probably from Old Norse itha

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1810, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing eddy

• eddy current

Rhymes for eddy

• heady
• ready
• reddi
• steady
• teddy
• thready
• already
• unsteady

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Kids Definition

eddy

1 of 2 noun

ed·​dy ˈed-ē 

plural eddies

: a current of air or water running against the main current or in a circle

eddy

2 of 2 verb

eddied; eddying

: to move in an eddy or in a way that forms an eddy

Biographical Definition

Eddy

biographical name

Ed·​dy ˈe-dē 

Mary (Morse) 1821–1910 née Baker American founder of the Christian Science Church