whir 1 of 2

variants also whirr

whir

2 of 2

verb

variants also whirr
as in to hum
to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a fluttering or vibratory sound the hummingbird whirred as it hovered over a flower our tires whirred as we traveled over the rough road

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 whir
Noun
The whir of drumsticks and the beating of drums mesmerized the audience as the curtains opened on the first Harmony Festival put on by the Korean American Association of Laguna Woods. Penny E Schwartz, Oc Register, 30 Mar. 2025 Every minute or so, the quiet is broken by a mechanical whir, as motors automatically reposition the panels to track the sun’s path across the sky. IEEE Spectrum, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
The lights were off, and the overhead projection screen illuminated by a whirring tan-and-gray reel of film that 9-year-old Marcus Sedberry handled while standing in the back of the classroom. Jesse Temple, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025 The sound of whirring sewing machines soundtracked her childhood. Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 21 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for whir
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whir
Verb
  • The grand ballroom of the Austin Film Society's 40th anniversary gala hummed with energy.
    Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
  • The Fed has kept interest rates steady for several months now as the U.S. economy continues to hum along better than many had expected.
    Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 1 July 2025
Noun
  • In a clever flex of corporate synergy, Apple promoted its first summer blockbuster with the release of a haptic trailer that imitates the purr of an F1 engine in the palms of your hands.
    David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 17 June 2025
  • Baldwin’s husky purr of a voice sets the table for the events of the film, before settling back to pop in every now and then with an omniscient insight or unspoken truth.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 June 2025
Noun
  • On a sunlit slope above the Aegean, the ruins of an old Greek estate whisper stories of power, legacy, and familial pride.
    Francois Botha, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
  • What was once spoken only in whispers, if at all, by our mothers and grandmothers, is now trending on TikTok.
    Time, Time, 26 June 2025
Noun
  • The celebrities are gone, the buzz has faded, and many SPACs are coming from serial sponsors who are, well, just a little dull.
    Luisa Beltran, Fortune, 1 July 2025
  • And others may have seen critical online buzz about the Squid Game season 3 ending that turned them off from watching the program.
    Toni Fitzgerald, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Whir.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whir. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on whir

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!