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
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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
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
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The Fresno State product didn’t exactly wow with size — a visible tick shy of a 5-foot-11 pre-draft measurement — but displayed solid timing and kept the rhythm humming on Saturday.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
10 May 2026
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At the Golden Nugget’s four locations, our in-person diners have started returning to pre-pandemic numbers, and delivery, which spiked in 2020, is still humming.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
In northern Virginia’s Loudoun County, the buzzing-windowless-behemoth capital of the world, every dollar in services provided to data centers returns twenty-six dollars in revenue, and that has allowed the county to lower its real-property taxes every year for the past decade.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
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On Wednesday, three pins were available for the buzzing audience, including one with a rainbow heart emblazoned with the words City of Boise.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Whirring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/whirring. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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