whoosh

1 of 2

noun

ˈ(h)wüsh  ˈ(h)wu̇sh 

: a swift or explosive rush

also : the sound created by such a rush

—often used interjectionally

whoosh

2 of 2

verb

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

Examples of whoosh in a Sentence

Verb

Cars whooshed along the highway.

Water whooshed down the pipe.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Meanwhile, instead of a sign with the hotel’s name, there is just a simple black fabric noren curtain, with a calligraphic whoosh of an S in white. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Nov. 2026

Any rhythm that repeats becomes fodder—the whoosh of the ocean, the boop-boop of video games. — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2026

Verb

The dog pressed his nose against the glass, keening whenever the driveway whooshed by. — Téa Obreht, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2026

That would also be zero … Until my plane whooshed off the runway on the first day of my vacation. — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

imitative

First Known Use

Noun

1856, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1909, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for whoosh

• douche
• touche
• barouche
• cartouche

Kids Definition

whoosh

1 of 2 noun

ˈhwüsh  ˈwüsh 

ˈhwu̇sh, 

wu̇sh

: a swift or explosive rush

also : the sound created by such a rush

whoosh

2 of 2 verb

: to pass or move along with a whoosh

cars whooshing along the highway