Word
swirling
US/ˈswɝɫɪŋ/
UK/swˈɜːlɪŋ/
Definition
adj. moving around quickly in a circle. You use this to describe things like wind, water, or smoke that don't stay still.
adj. moving in a twisting or spiralling pattern. Often used to describe fluid dynamics or atmospheric conditions; frequently appears in participial form before a noun.
Examples
“The swirling wind blew the leaves across the yard.”
“The pilot had difficulty landing the small plane due to the swirling clouds and heavy rain.”
“The artist captured the chaotic energy of the storm by using thick, swirling brushstrokes that seemed to pull the viewer into the center of the canvas.”
Examples
simple
“The swirling wind blew the leaves across the yard.”
contextual
“The pilot had difficulty landing the small plane due to the swirling clouds and heavy rain.”
complex
“The artist captured the chaotic energy of the storm by using thick, swirling brushstrokes that seemed to pull the viewer into the center of the canvas.”
Usage
Often used as a participial adjective before a noun or after a linking verb like 'remain' or 'become'.
Real-World Examples
“All day yesterday in Liverpool, rumours were swirling that Burnham had some big reveal on the EU in his speech.” “I catch myself swirling the coffee round the glass as if I’m at a wine tasting.” “They would have needed to enter her kitchen, where the window looked into the jungle of swirling, 2-metre-high brambles that made up her back garden, and her shame had spiralled.” “I had asked how long it took to become a real expert in the art of slurping, swirling and spitting coffee.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/swirling