View synonyms for

whir

Or whirr

[hwur, wur]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used without object)

whirred, whirring

to go, fly, revolve, or otherwise move quickly with a humming or buzzing sound.
An electric fan whirred softly in the corner.

verb (used with object)

whirred, whirring

to move or transport (a thing, person, etc.) with a whirring sound.
The plane whirred them away into the night.

noun

an act or sound of whirring.
the whir of wings.

whir

/ ��ɜː /

noun

a prolonged soft swish or buzz, as of a motor working or wings flapping
a bustle or rush

verb

to make or cause to make a whir

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Word History and Origins

Origin of whir¹

1350–1400; Middle English quirre ( Scots ) < Scandinavian; compare Danish hvirre, Norwegian kvirra. See whirl

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Word History and Origins

Origin of whir¹

C14: probably from Scandinavian; compare Norwegian kvirra, Danish hvirre; see _whirl

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Upstairs was a room filled with PCs, whirring away, buying and selling tickets.

From

At one point, the besieged Waymos began honking their horns in coordinated cacophony, punctuated by the chants of protesters and the whirring of police helicopters overhead.

From

During NASA’s Perseverance mission on Mars in 2021, the rover’s microphones detected the whir of the mission’s helicopter and noises created by the rover.

From

For a few more minutes, we hear the terrifying whirring sound of what's become the deadliest weapon of this war.

From

The gunfire, the blades of Israeli drones whirring overhead.

From

whipworm whirl

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