whoosh

noun \ ˈhwüsh , ˈwüsh , ˈ(h)wu̇sh \

|Updated on: 17 Jul 2018

Examples: whoosh in a Sentence

Definition of whoosh

: a swift or explosive rush; also : the sound created by such a rush —often used interjectionally

See whoosh defined for English-language learners

See whoosh defined for kids

Recent Examples of whoosh from the Web

Fine Arts Museums Director Max Hollein is, whoosh, off to the Met.

— leah garchik, SFChronicle.com, "Fine Arts Museums brand gets ‘refreshed’," 10 July 2018
Moreover, the Zee and Faith chapters feel somewhat perfunctory, with long stretches of exposition, so that years of change whoosh by on generalizations.

— amy gentry, chicagotribune.com, "Review: 'The Female Persuasion' by Meg Wolitzer," 26 Mar. 2018
Back on the line with O’Brien comes the satisfying whoosh of gas catching fire.

— kyle dickman, Outside Online, "What the West Can Learn from Florida About Forest Fires," 27 June 2018
Joshua bent over the cake, closed his eyes, made a wish — a long one — and then blew out the candles in a whoosh.

— dorie greenspan, New York Times, "The Double-Layer Chocolate Cake I Make for My Son’s Birthday," 9 May 2018
Since Elon Musk popularized the idea in the primordial soup of 2013, at least four companies have seized the maglev tube mantle, determined to deliver an actual whoosh.

— aarian marshall, WIRED, "The 11 Hypiest Hyperloop Projects We've Been Promised So Far," 20 Apr. 2018
The louvered screens of the bedroom window let in the ocean breeze and the white-noise whoosh of the surf, shot through with those sharp, full-throated calls.

— bonnie tsui, Redbook, "What It's Like to Travel Through 4 Countries In 3 Months With 2 Kids," 23 May 2017
There is the sound of rustling, followed by clanks, and then a sustained whoosh of loud, mechanical hissing.

— bronwen dickey, Popular Mechanics, "The Lost Kids on the Line," 14 Mar. 2018
With a whoosh, Clive, a 7-month-old Harris's hawk, spreads his wings and takes flight over the wet streets of downtown Portland.

— kale williams, OregonLive.com, "Latest weapon in Portland's war on bird poop: more birds," 7 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'whoosh.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of whoosh

imitative

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1856

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

whoosh

verb

Definition of whoosh

whooshed; whooshing; whooshes

intransitive verb

: to rush past or move explosively

cars whooshing along the expressway

transitive verb

: to move (a person or thing) with or as if with a whoosh

See whoosh defined for English-language learners

Examples of whoosh in a Sentence

Cars whooshed along the highway.
Water whooshed down the pipe.

Recent Examples of whoosh from the Web

After all, your baby was surrounded by the consistent sound of whooshing blood while in the womb.

— mary caldwell, ajc, "Baby sleep: 7 tips for surviving the first few months," 12 July 2018
A Bird scooter is a zippy little electric number that whooshes down the street as quietly as a hummingbird.

— conor friedersdorf, The Atlantic, "Fly On, My Sleek Electric Bird," 30 May 2018
Observer archives To get to uptown, users have to leave the Rail Trail and go along a narrow sidewalk on Morehead Street, then take a bridge over I-277 alongside whooshing traffic.

— ely portillo, charlotteobserver, "Here's Charlotte's plan to close a frustrating gap between South End and uptown," 6 June 2018
The look was enough to send the frantic breaths whooshing right out of her lungs.

— wesley snipes, The Root, "Talon of God," 27 May 2018
Air whooshed through the cabin, and snow-like debris floated down the aisle as oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling.

— Washington Post, "A boom, a whoosh of air and then terror on Flight 1380," 18 Apr. 2018
The giant racks of plants, all packaged, labeled and even priced, are whooshed through a system of soakers that look like a car wash, and wheeled onto trucks bound for stores locally and around the country.

— michael sangiacomo, cleveland.com, "The plant you give Mom on Mother's Day likely has local roots (photos)," 13 May 2018
Air whooshed through the cabin, and snow-like debris floated down the aisle as oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling.

— Washington Post, "A boom, a whoosh of air and then terror on Flight 1380," 18 Apr. 2018
The Cubs’ free-agent starting pitcher debuted Monday by flying directly and immediately into turbulence, and then, whoosh, out of it.

— steve rosenbloom, chicagotribune.com, "Early scouting report on new Cubs starter Tyler Chatwood: Buckle up," 3 Apr. 2018

First Known Use of whoosh

1909

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

WHOOSH Defined for English Language Learners

whoosh

noun

Definition of whoosh for English Language Learners

: the sound made by something that is moving quickly
: a small amount of gas, liquid, etc., that comes from a place quickly

whoosh

verb

Definition of whoosh for English Language Learners

: to move very quickly with the sound of quickly flowing air or water

WHOOSH Defined for Kids

whoosh

verb \ ˈhwüsh , ˈwüsh , ˈhwu̇sh , ˈwu̇sh \

Definition of whoosh for Students

whooshed; whooshing

: to pass or move along with a sound like that of something moving quickly

whoosh

noun

Definition of whoosh for Students

plural whooshes

: the sound created by something moving quickly

Learn More about whoosh

See words that rhyme with whoosh

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up whoosh? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

whoosh

Definition of whoosh

Recent Examples of whoosh from the Web

Origin and Etymology of whoosh

whoosh

Definition of whoosh

Examples of whoosh in a Sentence

Recent Examples of whoosh from the Web

First Known Use of whoosh

WHOOSH Defined for English Language Learners

whoosh

Definition of whoosh for English Language Learners

whoosh

Definition of whoosh for English Language Learners

WHOOSH Defined for Kids

whoosh

Definition of whoosh for Students

whoosh

Definition of whoosh for Students

Learn More about whoosh

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

'Kayfabe': It's Illusive and Elusive

Trending: Pirro: I'm Not an 'Ideologue'

5 Words for Clumsy People

Test Your Emoji Exceptionalism

Ghost Word