to whir

Examples

• All

• A small oscillating fan whirs in a corner of the elevator.

  Fiction book (1991)

• The shutter opens with a click, exposing another frame, and then the auto-wind mechanism whirs into action.

  Fiction book (1990)

• Still cameras click and whir.

  Fiction book (1992)

• This thing, you push that button and they automatically whir down gently.

• The machine whirs, louder, louder.

  Fiction book (1993)

• A fan whirs over his kit, which is spread, unraveled but ordered, on the stone floor.

  Fiction book (1996)

• The fan whirs.

  Fiction book (2002)

• The camera whirs.

  Fiction book (1996)

• A projector whirs.

  Fiction book (1999)

• From nowhere, the hanging bulb flicked on, a fan began to whir, and the army-surplus radio shrieked racket.

  Fiction book (1996)

Synonyms

W

to whirr

vsto whir

16 6.7

To make a soft, steady buzzing sound often from things that move fast like fan blades

can also mean a softer swishing or higher pitched buzz

P

to purr

vsto whir

6 3.5

To make a soft steady vibrating sound like a running engine

has broader swishing and low buzzing qualities beyond feline vibration

W

whirring

vsto whir

3.7

Making a soft continuous buzzing sound like a fan or fast wings

is more general and also includes low pitched swishing sounds

B

to birr

vsto whir

• UK

9.9

To make a soft whirring sound while moving quickly

is more specific about speed and lower pitch than this lighter sound

How Loud

to roar

98 1.0

to buzz

42 1.1

to whir

2 4.6

to hum

49 1.0

to purr

6 3.5

Surface Forms

Etymology