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

24 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

13 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

1 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

1 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

124 1.0

to buzz

77 1.1

to whir

23 4.6

to hum

42 1.0

to purr

13 3.5

Surface Forms

Etymology