1
as in rotated
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 twirled
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 spun
The junior quarterback was spun into the ground on the play and left the field with a trainer eyeing his right shoulder.
—
Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2025
The party featured a surprise performance from Grammy-winning singer songwriter, Daniel Caesar, while DJ Sam French spun throughout the night.
—Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
Some put feathers in their hair and spun unbelievable tales while casually slinging a sport coat over their shoulder (Coach from Tocantins).
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2025
Railroads sold land, Hollywood spun myth, and hotels gave those stories a front door.
—Jackie Bryant, AFAR Media, 23 Sep. 2025
He is promptly swept, his body spun by the man’s hand pulling him over a blocking foot.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
But not just in the most obvious ways the pro-gun advocates have spun so gleefully.
—Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
The VideoDisc player spun the 30-centimeter disc at a constant 450 rpm.
—Allison Marsh, IEEE Spectrum, 17 Sep. 2025
Lost in a 29-28 loss to the Colts was a ridiculous bomb from Nix to Troy Franklin in which the quarterback spun back to his left and fired a 42-yard ball off his right foot that Franklin didn’t even have to break stride for.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2025
Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2025
The party featured a surprise performance from Grammy-winning singer songwriter, Daniel Caesar, while DJ Sam French spun throughout the night.
—Jackie Fields, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025
Some put feathers in their hair and spun unbelievable tales while casually slinging a sport coat over their shoulder (Coach from Tocantins).
—Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 23 Sep. 2025
Railroads sold land, Hollywood spun myth, and hotels gave those stories a front door.
—Jackie Bryant, AFAR Media, 23 Sep. 2025
He is promptly swept, his body spun by the man’s hand pulling him over a blocking foot.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
But not just in the most obvious ways the pro-gun advocates have spun so gleefully.
—Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2025
The VideoDisc player spun the 30-centimeter disc at a constant 450 rpm.
—Allison Marsh, IEEE Spectrum, 17 Sep. 2025
Lost in a 29-28 loss to the Colts was a ridiculous bomb from Nix to Troy Franklin in which the quarterback spun back to his left and fired a 42-yard ball off his right foot that Franklin didn’t even have to break stride for.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spun
Verb
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Carefully balancing the plate on his hand, Gardner gently rotated it so the collodion flowed evenly across the surface, from edge to edge.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
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Wole didn’t understand, still smiling, and Jean rotated in her seat, toward Sylvester.—
David Wright Faladé,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Mickey piloted the boat to the cliffs, dropped anchor, and the four of them swam to shore.—
David Wright Faladé,
New Yorker,
28 Sep. 2025
-
The screen swam with shapes and lines.—
Sarah Mlynowski,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Chicago Cubs rookie Cade Horton twirled another gem on Tuesday night – this time, at the expense of the Pittsburgh Pirates.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Two go-go dancers twirled on a bar behind them.—
Bryan Washington,
New Yorker,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Also, activity in the consumer discretionary sector revolved largely around megacap stocks—both those that pulled back in September, and those that posted strong rallies.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
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For her take on enduring Grease style, Bieber revolved her going-out look around a boxy moto jacket—one of her signature wardrobe staples.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After a Joey Estes fastball came near his head, Robles whirled around and chucked his bat at the pitcher.—
Jackson Roberts,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Aug. 2025
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Between events, Diamandis whirled around, making and cementing connections.—
Tad Friend,
New Yorker,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The officer swung his undercover truck around, radioing his team to converge on a man who was depositing a $50 bill into the machine.—
Avery Schmitz,
CNN Money,
29 Sep. 2025
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Over the last two years, his role and those expectations have swung the other way.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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With hundreds of Elanco employees gathered with blue confetti at the ready, Indy, a rescue shelter dog turned service-dog-in-training, performed the official ribbon cutting, or in this case ribbon biting.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
2 Oct. 2025
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When her biological daughter turned 7, however, something shifted.—
Nicole Chung,
The Atlantic,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The star wide receiver made a 10-yard catch for a third-down conversion right along the right sideline and twisted his left leg beneath Malachi Moore as the New York safety made the tackle out of bounds.—
David Wilson,
Miami Herald,
30 Sep. 2025
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So, in an instant, Zeek twisted and pushed the barrel aside, but the robber grabbed his shoulder, firing a shot that cracked through the quiet.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
28 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spun.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spun. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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