churning

present participle of churn
1
as in swirling
to be in a state of violent rolling motion a churning sea made getting to the island a risky undertaking

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2
as in stirring
to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly churn the cream until it turns into butter

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of churning Roasting peaches intensifies their flavor, and in this old-school recipe, they're mashed and mixed into a rich custard before churning into a creamy, fruit-forward ice cream. Patricia S York, Southern Living, 12 June 2026 Any justice in the community would praise this murderer’s row of craftspeople working on the production design for the period town setting; makeup, especially Pennywise’s horrible face; sound design, for helping to keep the audio terrors churning along; and the costume work. William Earl, Variety, 11 June 2026 The two-minute trailer includes a recreation of the famous sailor-kissing-a-nurse photo from V-J Day, a woman insulting David’s butter churning, some trench warfare repartee about the looks of a soldier’s love back at home, the Boston Tea Party, and jokes about child labor. Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 11 June 2026 That churning mix of confidence and doubt gives Sir Render a full-bodied dynamism that Navy Blue albums can sometimes lack, moving between moods instead of circling around a single frame of mind. Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 10 June 2026 With more shaking or churning, these grains grow and separate from the watery, naturally low-fat buttermilk. Rosemary Trout, The Conversation, 10 June 2026 Ripe strawberries are pureed for the base, and more are macerated with vodka or tequila and folded in after churning. Victoria Spencer, Martha Stewart, 8 June 2026 The same year, Hurricane Dora passed within about 400 miles of Hawaii, churning up winds on the islands that contributed to the Lahaina fire disaster on Maui. Evan Bush, NBC news, 1 June 2026 Before the Chase Center crowd could wonder what was coming, Jocytė had already climbed on the stationary bike, her legs churning while the Indiana Fever seized momentum early in the second half Thursday night. Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for churning
Verb
  • Listen to the episode or read on below for more on what Sweeney thought about Cassie’s final monologue, the rumors swirling around about drama within the cast, and the pole dancing scene that didn’t make the final cut.
    Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 9 June 2026
  • But recently, rumors started swirling that there was another bomb to drop.
    Julia Terruso, Time, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • Alternatively, microwave chocolate at 50 percent power in 30-second increments, stirring well between each, until mostly melted.
    Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 13 June 2026
  • However, Venus in Cancer will square Chiron in Aries, stirring feelings of vulnerability around romance, money and self-worth.
    Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • Use kosher salt when seasoning, roasting, brining, pickling, baking, or even just boiling water for your favorite pasta recipe.
    Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 June 2026
  • While the water is technically heated to near-boiling temperatures to brew coffee and tea, that’s not always enough to guarantee safety, especially when altitude changes the boiling point.
    Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 7 June 2026
Verb
  • But once every four years, the globe stops spinning on its heavy axis.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 10 June 2026
  • Freeman was standing on third with two out when Muncy stepped up to the plate and sent a spinning one-hopper to the right side of the infield.
    Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
Verb
  • After seeing his parents vanquished, young Adam is quickly sent by the Sorceress (Morena Baccarin) with his all-powerful sword whirling away to Earth.
    Pete Hammond, Deadline, 2 June 2026
  • Admittedly, on its best day, Penn Station feels like a whirling dervish.
    Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • Stars are constant, writhing masses of vast convective bubbles rising to their seething surfaces.
    Keith Cooper, Space.com, 24 Nov. 2025
  • After the gold nuclei crashed, the protons and neutrons within them melted into a seething cloud of quark-gluon plasma.
    Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 15 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Churning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/churning. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

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