twirl

1 of 2

verb

twirled; twirling; twirls
Synonyms of twirlnext

intransitive verb

1
: to revolve rapidly
dancers twirling on the dance floor
The kite twirled in the wind.
2
: to pitch in a baseball game

transitive verb

1
a
: to cause to rotate rapidly
twirl a baton
b
: to twist or wrap
nervously twirling her hair
twirled the spaghetti around his fork
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
Sun Ra twirled, his arms and wrists as fluid as a showgirl’s. Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026 Venus, planet of connection, is twirling into your sociable 11th house, enhancing group ties and reminding your independent heart to welcome supportive networks. Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
The swishy Zesica Sleeveless Maxi Dress checks all my boxes, as the asymmetrical top is designed to sit lower on one side, and slightly flares out into a flowy pleated skirt that twirls nicely and allows for a full range of movement. Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2026 Instead, most elements are choreographic—step sequences, hydroplaning, and twizzles (a continuous forward-moving twirl on one foot). Natasha O'Neill, Vanity Fair, 26 Jan. 2026 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 23 Feb. 2026.

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

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