swirl

1 of 2

verb

swirled; swirling; swirls
Synonyms of swirlnext

intransitive verb

1
a
: to move with an eddying or whirling motion
swirling water
b
: to pass in whirling confusion
2
: to have a twist or convolution

transitive verb

: to cause to swirl
swirled her drink
swirlingly adverb

swirl

2 of 2

noun

1
a
: a whirling mass or motion : eddy
b
: whirling confusion
a swirl of events
2
: a twisting shape, mark, or pattern
3
: an act or instance of swirling

Synonyms of swirl

Examples of swirl in a Sentence

Verb The water swirled around the drain. kept swirling her lemonade until the ice had melted and it was completely watered down Noun A swirl of smoke rose from the chimney. He painted swirls of color on the canvas. ice cream with chocolate swirls
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
And unlike the internet rumors that had swirled around him in recent weeks, Post looked energetic throughout much of the nearly two-hour set. Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 10 June 2026 Recently, fans of the series have been clamoring for a full-blown, HD remake of the N64 classic for a bona fide next-generation console, and the rumors started to swirl earlier this year that their dreams would become reality. Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026
Noun
His mother made little or no reference to the Austrian relatives who had been snatched from Vienna’s glamorous cultural swirl and sent off to perish in the Nazi camps. Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026 Scheming, rumors, insults, secrets, love, lust and violence swirl within the family, a microcosm of the chaotic politics in India during the 1980s and ‘90s. The Know, Denver Post, 7 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for swirl

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

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

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Swirl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swirl. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

swirl

1 of 2 noun
1
: a whirling mass or motion : eddy
2
: whirling confusion
lost in the swirl of events
3
: a twisting shape, mark, or pattern

swirl

2 of 2 verb
1
: to move with or pass in a swirl
2
: to be marked with or arranged in swirls
3
: to cause to swirl
swirlingly
ˈswər-liŋ-lē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on swirl

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster