1
as in rotating
to move in circles around an axis or center
spinning on its axis, the Earth makes one complete rotation every 23 hours 56 minutes 4 seconds
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
3
as in twirling
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis
spun the child around until he was hopelessly dizzy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of spinning
The buildings are packed with head-spinning amounts of material (OpenAI says the fiber-optic cable in its Stargate data center in Abilene, Texas, could circle the Earth 16 times) and designed from the ground up for AI.
—
Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
Bainbridge spent about a year spinning her wheels.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Inside, a spinning mass causes small bristles on its body to rapidly compress and release.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 27 Jan. 2026
The sound of spinning tires on some of the streets is like a scream for help after Sunday's snowstorm.
—Chris Hoffman, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
The people who can’t or won’t see the continuity in front of them have typically been European adventurers or armchair archeologists, busy spinning dismissive theories about the cultures of non-Europeans.
—Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Make time for a drink at the neighboring bar, which has a fine selection of cocktails along with DJs spinning vinyl.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Jan. 2026
The system compensates for the Earth's rotation by counter-spinning the sensor while the telescope follows the sky, keeping everything rock-steady.
—New Atlas, 26 Jan. 2026
And there, the school’s first Heisman Trophy winner finished off the 27-21 victory on Miami’s home field with one powerful, spinning touchdown run that encapsulated Indiana’s fight to the top.
—Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2026
Sharon Goldman, Fortune, 27 Jan. 2026
Bainbridge spent about a year spinning her wheels.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Inside, a spinning mass causes small bristles on its body to rapidly compress and release.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 27 Jan. 2026
The sound of spinning tires on some of the streets is like a scream for help after Sunday's snowstorm.
—Chris Hoffman, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
The people who can’t or won’t see the continuity in front of them have typically been European adventurers or armchair archeologists, busy spinning dismissive theories about the cultures of non-Europeans.
—Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Make time for a drink at the neighboring bar, which has a fine selection of cocktails along with DJs spinning vinyl.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Jan. 2026
The system compensates for the Earth's rotation by counter-spinning the sensor while the telescope follows the sky, keeping everything rock-steady.
—New Atlas, 26 Jan. 2026
And there, the school’s first Heisman Trophy winner finished off the 27-21 victory on Miami’s home field with one powerful, spinning touchdown run that encapsulated Indiana’s fight to the top.
—Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 25 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spinning
Verb
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Bake tart on baking sheet, rotating front to back halfway through, until almonds and crust are deep golden brown, 45–55 minutes.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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For the remainder of the final season, Penny Marshall was paired with rotating guest stars for a series of comedic misadventures.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The big animals were still swimming as night fell and the hunters returned home.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
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Meanwhile, just some of the experiences left on her impressive list include visiting Vatican City, going on a cruise, running a marathon, swimming with dolphins and visiting the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The trailer opens with the ominous tones on Also sprach Zarathustra and an image of a Presley nervously twirling his ring and tapping his foot.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
9 Dec. 2025
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There was the six-member step team, two girls twirling flags and three more spinning rings.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Old GPUs from Club name Nvidia are more than holding their value, which ends the big bear case revolving depreciation.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
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There’s also a revolving cast of characters, like musical theater snob Sharpay (Ashley Tisdale), her pianist brother Ryan (Lucas Grabeel), and Troy’s puppy-dog-esque best friend Chad Danforth (Corbin Bleu), all with varying levels of excitement about Troy’s sudden interest in arpeggio scales.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Patterns emerged in the observations, captured both close to the star and further away from it, that suggested a companion star was whirling through Betelgeuse’s extended atmosphere.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
20 Jan. 2026
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Though lazy Susans are better known for their utility on the table, consider getting one for more flexibility and succinct storage space within corner cabinets for whirling out pots and pans.—
Alex Ronan,
Architectural Digest,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
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All lighting on the Chief Vintage is LED, and the adaptive headlight can peek into corners while turning.—
William Roberson,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Google is rolling out major updates to Gemini in Chrome, turning the browser into an AI-powered assistant designed to help users multitask, browse faster, and complete complex online tasks with less effort.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Or maybe you'll be best suited by the moody, rocky shores of Central and Northern Cali, landscapes of twisting cypress trees and foggy-grey skies.—
Alanna Bennett,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Jan. 2026
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To shovel safely, use ergonomic tools, take breaks, lift with your legs, and avoid twisting your body.—
Manahil Ahmad,
The Providence Journal,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Cook, swirling skillet occasionally and reducing heat if browning too quickly or if oil is smoking, until deep golden brown underneath, about 5 minutes.—
Chris Morocco,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
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As the Chiefs’ offseason got off to an earlier-than-normal start, Patrick Mahomes’ season-ending ACL injury and the uncertainty swirling around Travis Kelce’s future are being closely watched in Kansas City.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Spinning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spinning. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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