whirlwind

1 of 2

noun

whirl·​wind ˈ(h)wər(-ə)l-ˌwind 

1

: a small rotating windstorm of limited extent

2

a

: a confused rush : whirl

a whirlwind of meetings

b

: a violent or destructive force or agency

whirlwind

2 of 2

adjective

: resembling a whirlwind especially in speed or force

a whirlwind campaign

a whirlwind romance

Synonyms of whirlwind

Adjective

• rapid
• brisk
• quick
• fast
• galloping

Examples of whirlwind in a Sentence

Noun

My life has been a whirlwind lately.

He attended a whirlwind of meetings.

Adjective

The band went on a whirlwind concert tour.

They were married after a whirlwind romance.

We continued on at a whirlwind pace.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

More unusual, my ungovernable whirlwind of a two-year-old looks pleased as punch, smiling docilely for the camera and exuding the joy that comes from feeling loved and safe. —Literary Hub, 24 Nov. 2025

More, the whirlwind that takes them under is no mere accident but the act of a wrathful God. —Claudia Roth Pierpont, New Yorker, 24 Nov. 2025

Adjective

George hired Sanders from Jackson State, which created a whirlwind situation in Boulder, and signed him to a five-year extension. —Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 19 Nov. 2025

And that was only the beginning of their whirlwind month. —Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1727, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for whirlwind

• chagrined
• crosswind
• downwind
• rescind
• upwind
• woodwind
• finned
• ginned
• grinned
• pinned
• sinned
• skinned

Kids Definition

whirlwind

1 of 2 noun

whirl·​wind -ˌwind 

: a small windstorm of rapidly rotating air

whirlwind

2 of 2 adjective

: resembling a whirlwind especially in speed or force

a whirlwind campaign

a whirlwind romance