whiz

1 of 3

verb

ˈ(h)wiz 

variants or whizz

whizzed; whizzing

intransitive verb

1

: to hum, whir, or hiss like a speeding object (such as an arrow or ball) passing through air

2

: to fly or move swiftly especially with a whiz

cars whizzing by

transitive verb

: to cause to whiz

especially : to rotate very rapidly

whiz

2 of 3

noun (1)

variants or whizz

plural whizzes

1

: a hissing, buzzing, or whirring sound

2

: a movement or passage of something accompanied by a whizzing sound

3

sometimes vulgar : an act of urinating

—used especially in the phrase take a whiz

whiz

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural whizzes

: wizard sense 2

a math whiz

Synonyms

Verb

• whistle
• hiss
• fizzle
• swish
• sizzle

Noun (1)

• whistle
• sizzle
• fizz

Noun (2)

• expert
• adept
• master
• scholar
• wizard
• virtuoso
• guru

Examples of whiz in a Sentence

Verb

The ball whizzed through the air.

Cars whizzed by on the highway.

He whizzed past us on skates.

She whizzed through the exam.

Noun (1)

the whiz of an arrow flying by at an uncomfortably close range

the irritating whiz of a bee in the room

Noun (2)

the computer whiz to whom we all go when we're having problems, which is fairly often

one of those whizzes who does very well in every subject

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

At game speed, Amador appeared to lose his glove in midair as the ball went whizzing over his head. —Denver Post, 26 May 2025

Drones and missiles whizzed across the border in both directions, with the governments and national media offering dueling claims about targets hit, infrastructure destroyed, and lives lost. —Aqil Shah, Foreign Affairs, 23 May 2025

Noun

Eldest son Roman, a finance whiz, is determined to save him. —Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 1 July 2025

The Mad Men series features many gripping scenes of advertising whiz Don Draper demonstrating his creative genius to clients. —Michael Ashley, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

imitative

Noun (2)

probably by shortening & alteration

First Known Use

Verb

1582, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1914, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing whiz

• gee whiz
• take a whiz
• whiz kid

Rhymes for whiz

• biz
• fizz
• his
• is
• quiz
• riz
• tis
• whizz
• wiz
• chandeliers

Kids Definition

whiz

1 of 3 verb

variants or whizz

ˈhwiz 

ˈwiz

whizzed; whizzing

1

: to hum, buzz, or hiss like a speeding object (as an arrow or ball) passing through air

2

: to fly, pass, or move swiftly with a buzzing sound

cars whizzing by

whizzer noun

whiz

2 of 3 noun

variants or whizz

plural whizzes

: a humming, buzzing, or hissing sound

whiz

3 of 3 noun

plural whizzes

: wizard sense 2

a math whiz

Etymology

Verb

probably coined in imitation of the sound of a speeding object going by

Noun

probably a shortened and altered form of wizard