Synonyms of spinning

spinning

verb

present participle of spin

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

• rotating
• revolving
• twirling
• whirling
• turning
• rolling
• gyrating
• curling
• circling
• pirouetting
• swirling
• pinwheeling
• twisting
• wheeling
• curving
• winding
• coiling
• spiraling
• orbiting
• twining
• circulating
• ringing
• pivoting
• encircling
• swiveling
• rounding

2

as in swimming

to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around

my head spun as I contemplated all the possible problems this restructuring could cause

Synonyms & Similar Words

• swimming
• whirling
• turning
• reeling
• swirling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• collecting
• settling
• calming
• steadying

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

• rotating
• twirling
• swinging
• turning
• twisting
• swirling
• whirling
• rolling
• revolving
• swiveling
• pivoting
• wheeling
• winding
• screwing
• cranking
• reeling
• circulating
• coiling
• unscrewing
• twiddling

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of spinning

By spinning up nostalgia for a kind of luxurious rap stardom that barely exists anymore, Baby Osamaa comes up with a sketch of what her own big-budget major label debut would look like. — Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 4 Nov. 2026

With low pressure already spinning away in the Gulf of Alaska, any stable atmosphere that moves east will pull that Gulf of Alaska low south, where it will quickly be saturated with extra moisture from El Niño and form an atmospheric river. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026

Like a fast-spinning top, the polar vortex’s tight rotation helps keep cold air trapped over the pole, says Judah Cohen, a climatologist at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 4 Nov. 2026

The Ford Focus struck the rear of the pickup truck, spinning it around. — Paula Wethington, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026

The Kia was sent spinning into the northbound lanes of Ernest Barrett Parkway and Macland Road. — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2026

Its spinning parts rub against each other and warm up due to friction, which converts moving energy into heat. — Edwin Alexani, The Conversation, 2 Nov. 2026

The sun sinks low over China’s northeastern rice fields as combines with spinning metal teeth slice neat rows in the tawny stocks. — Ann Scott Tyson, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Nov. 2026

Box turtle battles can also feature spinning each other around. — Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 1 Nov. 2026