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
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
Jack Albright, jsonline.com, 3 July 2025
An enormous drill sends a thick metal bit whirring deep into the quarry ground and back up to the surface.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 May 2025
Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2025
Although the atmosphere is relaxed and festive, the sound of police sirens and the whir of the helicopter’s blades serve as reminders that the authorities remain on high alert.
—Tom Williams, New York Times, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for whir
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Verb
And the machines whirring somewhere out of earshot.
—Jack Albright, jsonline.com, 3 July 2025
An enormous drill sends a thick metal bit whirring deep into the quarry ground and back up to the surface.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 13 May 2025
Noun
Between intermittent interviews in a somber Royals clubhouse on Wednesday night at Kauffman Stadium, the lone prevailing noise was the whir of a refreshment refrigerator.
—Vahe Gregorian, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2025
Although the atmosphere is relaxed and festive, the sound of police sirens and the whir of the helicopter’s blades serve as reminders that the authorities remain on high alert.
—Tom Williams, New York Times, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for whir
Cite this Entry
“Whir.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whir. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
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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