variants
or less commonly whirr
whirred; whirring
: to fly, revolve, or move rapidly with a whir
hummingbirds whirring past
: to move or carry rapidly with a whir
variants
or less commonly whirr
: a continuous fluttering or vibratory sound made by something in rapid motion
the whir of machinery
Synonyms
Examples of whir in a Sentence
Verb
the hummingbird whirred as it hovered over a flower
our tires whirred as we traveled over the rough road
Noun
the whir of a fan
a whir coming from the refrigerator
Recent Examples on the Web
Jennifer Maas, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
In the mid-60s, this whirring mechanical device the size of an entire room was an object of profound mystery to the average American.
—Tacita Quinn, CNN, 29 Sep. 2024
Paul Yoon, The New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2024
In 2020 and 2021, millions around the world sought freedom and security from the constant whir of the central bank printing press by unbanking themselves.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for whir 
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Verb
Pots are steaming, whisks are whirring and the air is thick with sugar.
—Jennifer Maas, Variety, 5 Nov. 2024
In the mid-60s, this whirring mechanical device the size of an entire room was an object of profound mystery to the average American.
—Tacita Quinn, CNN, 29 Sep. 2024
Noun
The faint whir of a vacuum comes from somewhere nearby.
—Paul Yoon, The New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2024
In 2020 and 2021, millions around the world sought freedom and security from the constant whir of the central bank printing press by unbanking themselves.
—Christiaan Hetzner, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for whir
Dictionary Entries Near whir
Cite this Entry
“Whir.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whir. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
whir
1 of 2 verb
variants
also whirr
ˈhwər 
ˈwər
whirred; whirring
: to fly, turn, or move rapidly with a buzzing sound
ceiling fans whirred overhead
whir
2 of 2 noun
variants
also whirr
: a fluttering or vibrating sound made by something in rapid motion
the whir of machinery
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