Word
whirl
US/ˈhwɝɫ/
UK/wˈɜːl/
Definitions
01a busy series of events
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a fast and often confusing series of activities or events.
n. a rapid and continuous succession of events or activities that may cause confusion or exhaustion.
“The last week before the wedding was a whirl of appointments and parties.”
“Life in the capital was a constant whirl of social engagements and professional obligations that left him little time for reflection.”
02a brief try
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Informal
n. a quick attempt or trial of something you have not done before.
n. an informal attempt or trial, typically used in the idiomatic construction 'give it a whirl'.
“I have never tried making bread before, but I will give it a whirl.”
“Although she had no experience with graphic design software, she decided to give it a whirl to see if she could create her own logo.”
03spinning movement
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. the action of turning or spinning around very fast.
n. a rapid rotatory or revolving motion.
“The dancer finished her performance with a graceful whirl.”
“The leaves were caught in a sudden whirl of wind, dancing across the pavement before settling in the gutter.”
04to spin quickly
B2 · Upper Intermediate
v. to turn or spin around very quickly.
v. to rotate, revolve, or move in a circle at high speed.
“The children began to whirl around in circles until they felt dizzy.”
“Dust clouds whirled behind the car as it sped down the dry country road, obscuring the view for anyone following behind.”
Etymology
From Middle English whirlen, contracted from earlier whirvelen, whervelen, possibly from Old English hwyrflian, hweorflian (attested in hwirflung, hwerflung (“change, vicissitude”)), frequentative form of Old English hweorfan (“to turn”), itself from Proto-West Germanic hwerban, from Proto-Germanic hwerbaną (“to turn”); or perhaps from Old Norse hvirfla (“to go round, spin”). Cognate with Dutch wervelen (“to whirl, swirl”), German wirbeln (“to whirl, swirl”), Danish hvirvle (“to whirl”), Swedish virvla (older spelling hvirfla), Albanian vorbull (“a whirl”). Related to whirr and wharve.
From Middle English whirl, wherwille, whorwhil, wervel, from Old English hwirfel, hwyrfel (“whirlpool”), from Proto-West Germanic hwirbil, from Proto-Germanic hwirbilaz, *hwarbilaz (“swirl, whirl, whirlpool”), equivalent to wharve + -el; and also Old Norse hvirfill (“ring, circle, crown”), whence Danish hvirvel (“cowlick”), Dutch werveling (“whirling, vortex”), German Low German Warvel (“whirl, whirlpool”), German Wirbel (“whirl, whirlpool”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Idioms
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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