Thesaurus results for WHIRRING

whirring

verb

present participle of whir

as in humming

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

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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 whirring Most of us turn to mechanical fixes—air conditioners humming, ceiling fans whirring at full tilt. —

Nolan Lewis, Architectural Digest, 27 Apr. 2026 Shadows and strange sounds can set imaginations whirring—from the guttural roar of a hunting lion to the giggling calls of a feasting hyena pack. —

Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 Apr. 2026 In this case, a genteel woman’s tradition is set against the sound of military helicopters whirring overhead. —

Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2026 Surely, Bobby Jones must be spinning like a rotisserie chicken in his final resting place, and while the co-founder of the stately club lies some 143 miles to the east of Amen Corner, the patrons should be able to pick up on the whirring noises if the wind’s blowing the right way. —

Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 10 Apr. 2026 Culinary team member Nancy Eisman suggested whirring them into pesto. —

Judy Bart Kancigor, Oc Register, 9 Apr. 2026 The promotional photo shared on Instagram—showing Moroney wearing a gray and orange Vols shirt—set the country music conspiracy machine whirring. —

Erin Vanderhoof, Vanity Fair, 4 Mar. 2026 The Olympics star-making machine has started whirring, and no sport is more ripe for some stars than curling. —

Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026 The partnership has helped keep its sewing machines whirring. —

Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 6 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirring

Verb

People who live near data centers also complain about noise pollution from the cooling systems data centers use for their computers, which sometimes produce a humming noise.

— Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 16 May 2026
Photo by Vardan Papikyan on Unsplash Somewhere inside every electric vehicle, every grid-scale solar installation, every military drone humming over a desert, there is a sliver of material most people will never think about.

— Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026