twirl

1 of 2

verb

twirled; twirling; twirls

intransitive verb

1
: to revolve rapidly
2
: to pitch in a baseball game

transitive verb

1
: to cause to rotate rapidly
2
twirler noun

twirl

2 of 2

noun

1
: an act of twirling
2
: coil, whorl
twirly adjective

Examples of twirl in a Sentence

Verb They twirled past us on the dance floor. The cheerleaders jumped and twirled. The kite twisted and twirled in the wind. The chef twirled the noodles around his fork. Noun The dancers executed perfect twirls. the twirl of the dancer's skirt mesmerized me
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
Stick to pasta shapes that don’t need to be twirled. Catherine Jessee, Southern Living, 27 Apr. 2025 The off-the-shoulder, sleeveless top feels amazing in the sun, and the roomy high-low skirt is perfect for twirling—no matter your age. Robin Raven, Travel + Leisure, 27 Apr. 2025
Noun
The perfect pasta twirl, the soft collapse of cake, the crunch when cutting into a loaf of sourdough—these are the moments when the best silverware sets really earns its place at the table. Angela Tafoya, Vogue, 3 Apr. 2025 Her movements were understated and free, her presence magnetic — graceful twirls one moment, piercing eye contact the next. Sara Ibrahim, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for twirl

Word History

Etymology

Verb

perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Norwegian dialect tvirla to twirl; akin to Old High German dweran to stir

First Known Use

Verb

1598, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of twirl was in 1598

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Twirl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/twirl. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

twirl

1 of 2 verb
: to turn or cause to turn rapidly
twirl a baton
twirler noun

twirl

2 of 2 noun
: an act of twirling

More from Merriam-Webster on twirl

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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