variants
also whirr
as in hum
a monotonous sound like that of an insect in motion
a whir coming from the refrigerator
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
The Orb’s cameras whirred for a minute, capturing my iris’s texture.
—Jason Henry, New York Times, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for 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
As a three-hour program — Knight opened at 7 p.m. on the dot — Sunday’s show moved quickly, with a rotating stage that whirred to life after each woman’s set.
—Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2025
The Orb’s cameras whirred for a minute, capturing my iris’s texture.
—Jason Henry, New York Times, 3 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for whir
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whir
Verb
-
Step off the humming streets of Taipei, through the glass doors of the Mandarin Oriental, and the city’s energy fades behind thick stone walls.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2025
-
With their defensive limitations, the Knicks need to make sure the offense is humming more often than not.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
17 June 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
-
Every new headline—whether a cease-fire whisper or another drone strike—moves Brent and insurance quotes long before drilling rigs or pipelines can respond.—
Guney Yildiz,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
-
Jane spoke barely above a whisper to an attentive jury throughout her afternoon testimony.—
Larry Neumeister,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
Last word The Red Sox’s trade of Rafael Devers was a shocker, and the timing of it, killing the buzz after their sweep of the Yankees, was rough to swallow.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
21 June 2025
-
Amid the buzz, Vogue reached out to Carolyn's hair colorist, Brad Johns, to get his take on whether or not the portrayal, specifically her signature blonde hair, was done right.—
Michelle Lee,
People.com,
18 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Whir.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whir. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share