English Reference

Word

spin

US/ˈspɪn/

UK/spˈɪn/

Irregular verb

Forms

Infinitive

spin

Past

spun

Past participle

spun

Definitions

01to rotate

A2 · Elementary

v. to turn around and around very quickly.

v. to rotate or cause to rotate rapidly around an axis.

“The ice skater started to spin faster and faster until she was just a blur.”

“The turbine began to spin at several thousand revolutions per minute, generating enough power for the entire facility.”

Antonyms

stagnate

02to make yarn

B1 · Intermediate

v. to twist fibers like wool or cotton together to make thread.

v. to draw out and twist fibers into yarn or thread.

“In the old days, people used a wooden wheel to spin wool into yarn.”

“The artisan demonstrated how to spin raw silk into delicate threads using traditional methods passed down through generations.”

Synonyms

03to bias information

C1 · Advanced Informal

v. to describe a situation in a way that makes it sound better than it really is.

v. to present or interpret information with a particular bias to influence public opinion.

“The company tried to spin the bad news as a chance for a fresh start.”

“Political consultants worked through the night to spin the candidate's controversial remarks before the morning papers were printed.”

Teaching tip

Often used in the context of 'spin doctors' in politics or public relations.

04turning motion

A2 · Elementary Countable noun

n. a fast, circular movement.

n. a rapid revolving or rotating motion.

“The dancer finished her performance with a graceful spin.”

“The physicist measured the electron's spin to determine its magnetic properties within the experimental field.”

Synonyms

rotationwhirlgyration

05a short trip

B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Informal

n. a short, quick journey in a car or on a bike for fun.

n. a brief excursion in a vehicle, typically for pleasure rather than utility.

“It is a beautiful day, so let's go for a spin in your new car.”

“After restoring the vintage motorcycle, he took it for a quick spin around the countryside to test the engine.”

Usage

Commonly used in the phrase 'go for a spin'.

Synonyms

06biased interpretation

C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Informal

n. a way of telling a story that influences what people think.

n. a particular bias or slant placed on information to manipulate its perception.

“The reporter put a positive spin on the team's loss by focusing on their hard work.”

“The government's spin on the economic data failed to convince the public that prices were actually falling.”

Synonyms

07a new version

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun

n. a new or different way of doing something that already exists.

n. a novel or creative variation of an existing concept or item.

“The chef created a modern spin on the traditional apple pie.”

“The director's latest film offers a dark, psychological spin on the classic fairy tale.”

08aircraft stall

C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical

n. a dangerous situation where a plane falls while turning in circles.

n. a flight condition involving a stall resulting in a simultaneous roll, pitch, and yaw.

“The pilot managed to recover the plane from a dangerous spin just in time.”

“During the aerobatic display, the pilot intentionally entered a flat spin to demonstrate the aircraft's recovery capabilities.”

Collocations

Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “spin” in context.

Verb

01. spin a web of lies

“The fraudster managed to spin a web of lies that deceived investors for years.”

verb + noun + of + noun

02. spin a yarn

“The old sailor would often spin a yarn about his adventures in the South Pacific.”

verb + noun

03. spin out of control

“The aircraft began to spin out of control after the engine failure.”

verb + prep + noun

Adjective

04. dizzying spin

“The figure skater ended her routine with a dizzying spin that left the audience breathless.”

adj + noun

Noun

05. brief spin in the car

“We took a brief spin in the car to test the new suspension.”

adj + noun + prep + noun

06. positive spin on the news

“The press secretary tried to put a positive spin on the news regarding the economic downturn.”

adj + noun + prep + noun

Real-World Examples

“As of Friday, the spacecraft had cut its spin rate in half, from about 9 degrees per second to approximately 4 degrees per second.”
Ars Technica 1 Aug 2026
“In some cases, the rising air becomes so strong that it begins to spin, forming a fire whirl , also known as a fire tornado.”
The Conversation 30 Jul 2026
“We took a spin around Lahore, Pakistan, on a small-but-mighty one.”
The New York Times 11 Aug 2026
“This will have been an enticing selling point for a team that spin so much gold from set plays.”
The Guardian 8 Aug 2026

Etymology

From Middle English spinnen, from Old English spinnan, from Proto-Germanic spinnaną, from Proto-Indo-European (s)penh₁-. Cognates Cognate with Dutch, German spinnen (“to spin”), Luxembourgish spannen (“to spin”), Yiddish שפּינען (shpinen, “spin”), Danish spinde (“to spin”), Faroese, Icelandic and Swedish spinna (“to spin”), Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk spinne (“to spin”), Gothic 𐍃𐍀𐌹𐌽𐌽𐌰𐌽 (spinnan, “to spin”).

Clipping of special interest.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

VERB

spin(C1)

PHRASAL VERB

Related words

Idioms

Domains

AviationComputingCookingFishingNauticalProgrammingSports

This entry

Exam level
CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
Frequency
Common
Level
C1 · AdvancedOxford
Updated

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English Reference