Word
whirlwind
Phoneticswhirl·wind, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhwɝɫˌwɪnd/
UK/wˈɜːlwɪnd/
Definitions
01spinning wind
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Science
n. a tall column of air that spins around very fast in a circle.
n. a localized windstorm characterized by a rapid inward and upward spiral motion of air.
“The dry summer heat created a small whirlwind of dust in the middle of the field.”
“The desert floor was prone to sudden whirlwinds that would whip up sand and obscure visibility for several minutes at a time.”
02fast-paced events
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a situation where many things happen so fast that you feel confused or excited.
n. a figurative representation of a person or series of events moving with great speed, force, or confusion.
“Her first week at the new job was a whirlwind of meetings and training sessions.”
“The merger was a whirlwind of legal negotiations and late-night strategy sessions that left the executive team exhausted but triumphant.”
03very quick
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. happening very quickly and often unexpectedly.
adj. characterized by extreme speed and a lack of duration; often used to describe social or romantic developments.
“They got married after a whirlwind romance that lasted only three months.”
“The prime minister embarked on a whirlwind tour of the affected provinces to assess the damage before the international summit.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun it describes.
Real-World Examples
“What followed was a series of whirlwind dates - lunches, dinners, sightseeing and shopping trips.” “Take the case of Van Hecke, for whom the summer months have been a whirlwind.” Etymology
From Middle English whirlewind, whirlewynde, equivalent to whirl + wind. Compare Middle Dutch wervelwint, Old Norse hvirfilvindr.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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