to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly
kept swirling her lemonade until the ice had melted and it was completely watered down
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 swirls
Verb
To load the product onto the brush, Barnes swirls the tool into the pan twice and taps it twice to prevent fallout.—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 12 Dec. 2025 The lights are dim and jazzy music swirls the intimate crowd.—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2025 But as the trial date approaches and uncertainty swirls over what the lawsuit could mean for the future of stock car racing, many of the team owners expressed a feeling of urgency to see the litigation resolved and indicated the current charter system was vital for their continued existence.—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2025 Energy has had a tremendous five-year run, but investors have been cautious in 2025 as uncertainty swirls around policymakers.—Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
And believe me, a person who receives warmth, love, and care from us—who washes and styles their hair—is someone who walks back into the world feeling confident, inspired, and ready to spread kindness further.
—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
24 Feb. 2026
The meaning of consciousness is immersion in multitudinous flowing tastes, olfactory rumors, vibrations, racing to understand before the ocean washes them away, these sensations like spherical and syncopated waves crashing against her hundred tentacles.
Atkin rotates uphill, alley oop, in the opposite direction to the natural flow of the pipe, and spins 540 degrees (one and a half rotations) before finishing with a mute grab.
—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
21 Feb. 2026
Each tray rotates quickly as customers move through the store, many stopping at the bakery before continuing their grocery shopping.
Recipients aren't supposed to owe any taxes until the money is withdrawn, which can happen at any point after a child turns 18, in accordance with rules for traditional IRAs.
—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Feb. 2026
Small fixes prevent messes as information-gathering Mercury turns retrograde in your 6th House of Wellness, nudging you to refine routines and rest your body and mind.
Big fun will arrive in tiny packages at the eighth annual Dairy Block Petite Parade, which plays off Mardi Gras and features miniature floats built from a shoebox base, and pulled on wheels.
—
John Wenzel,
Denver Post,
26 Feb. 2026
Make sure the tires reconnect with the road - During the skid, wait until the tires reconnect with the road and then gently straighten the wheels to regain control.