whirring

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 In the corner of a nondescript office in Sheffield, a city in the north of England, a compact server full of Nvidia chips is whirring away. Billy Perrigo, Time, 17 Aug. 2026 In a noisier space, such as a plane or near whirring machinery, switching on the ANC is all but essential. Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 7 Aug. 2026 The computers are whirring, cameras aligned, the only thing left to do is wait. Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 20 July 2026 Angela George The voting machines are whirring at a clip, which in turn makes the pace of the afternoon feel fast. Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 8 July 2026 But something about the collective excitement of a reunion struck a chord, and the machine started whirring. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 30 June 2026 The production design closely resembled that of his recent Rolling Loud set and his in-progress Don’t Be Dumb tour, including a helicopter hanging from the top of the stage (its whirring blades could be heard between songs). Drew Cohen, SPIN, 9 June 2026 Clanging cable cars still climb up and down the streets, although these days they’re joined by self-driving taxis, an ever-present reminder of the whirring tech scene. Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 June 2026 Humming cooling systems, rumbling diesel generators and whirring fans can be heard continuously hundreds of feet around them, according to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, prompting reports from residents of headaches, vertigo, nausea, sleep disturbances, ear pain and hypertension. N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for whirring
Verb
  • Meanwhile, this column just keeps humming along day after day.
    Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • The sounds of generators humming and chain saws whirling filled the neighborhood Thursday afternoon.
    Rebecca Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The dreamy setting is an ideal spot to drop anchor for a relaxing swim, snorkel, and linger over a bottle of local wine under umbrella pine trees buzzing with cicadas.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Now, two new heartthrobs of the 2020s have joined the party, with Heated Rivalry star Connor Storrie and Manchester City footballer Erling Haaland both buzzing their notable hairstyles in favor of a summery buzz cut.
    Kara Nesvig, Allure, 24 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Whirring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirring. Accessed 28 Aug. 2026.

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