whirl 1 of 2

Definition of whirlnext
1
as in rotation
a rapid turning about on an axis or central point the whirl of the mechanical ride made him dizzy

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2
3
4
as in try
an effort to do or accomplish something I'm pretty good at fixing things, so how about if I give it a whirl?

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whirl

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to stir
to cause (as a liquid) to move about in a circle especially repeatedly whirled the chocolate syrup into the milk with a spoon

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2
as in to spin
to move (something) in a curved or circular path on or as if on an axis the figure skater whirled his partner with effortless grace

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3
4
5
as in to swim
to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around my mind whirled from all of the excitement

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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 whirl
Noun
Victoria and her fiancé made arrangements for a babysitter to watch their 5-month-old son and brought her ticket to the Maryland Lottery's headquarters in Baltimore for her chance to give The Big Spin Wheel a whirl. Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 26 May 2026 Although quite a few movies have taken place against the whirl of the Cannes Film Festival, only a handful have been shot within sanctioned festival spaces — often because of artistic, logistical and financial constraints. Los Angeles Times, 12 May 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 So Anikpo, a psychiatric physician assistant, didn't think to discuss the crackdown with their 9-year-old son Zeke, even as helicopters whirled over their South Minneapolis neighborhood. ABC News, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for whirl
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirl
Noun
  • Our team has reviewed dozens of the best sheet sets over the years, and these Boll & Branch sheets are part of shopping director Rachel Fletcher’s own rotation.
    Blake Bakkila, Architectural Digest, 23 June 2026
  • Beneficiaries of the urgent, unprecedented buildout of computing capacity are carrying the indexes, with timely rotations into the broader array of stocks allowing the leaders to rest periodically.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Mercury stations retrograde in Cancer in your 11th House of Friends and Community, bringing old invitations, group-chat confusion, or unclear expectations back into focus.
    Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 29 June 2026
  • In it, the author described a culture of confusion, stress, and incompetence, as contractors competed for work to be completed under near-impossible deadlines.
    Cortney Harding, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • The cover girl, who is drawn on the box, has created a stir.
    Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
  • Rag and Bone’s Miramar line has caused a stir among celebrities and editors alike since its debut a few years ago.
    Erika Reals, InStyle, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • Japan has not won a World Cup knockout-round game in four tries.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026
  • And no one can fake it (though many try).
    Adrienne LaFrance, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
Verb
  • Even with tariff turmoil swirling and adding a not-insignificant degree of confusion and instability to global trade, there have been some crucial bright spots for the textile industry over the past year, in large part because of the protections afforded by USMCA.
    Kate Nishimura, Footwear News, 26 June 2026
  • Kimiya was closest, sprawled across the floor weeping, debris swirling around her.
    Jeff Spry, Space.com, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • The rotating door of managers in Queens spins once again.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026
  • The first permanent cotton-spinning mill was established in Pawtucket, Rhode Island dating back to 1790.
    Timothy Templet, Fortune, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • The rotating door of managers in Queens spins once again.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026
  • Nobody expected that the Feeneys would go on for half a century, but every winter and spring that passed, the team would be back on the diamond, albeit with a rotating cast.
    Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • Peterson gave credit to catcher Carson Kelly’s game calling, which required the two getting up to speed quickly without the lefty having thrown a bullpen that would’ve given Kelly an idea in person of how his stuff moves.
    Meghan Montemurro, Chicago Tribune, 28 June 2026
  • Professionals will take full advantage of each upgrade to speed up development, media production, and the heavy lifting required by generative AI tools.
    Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Whirl.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirl. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.

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