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to swirl

to swirl

120 2.7
To move in a twisting or circular way
  • verb
  • /swɜrl/
translation icon : girar en remolino
  • He took the glass and gently swirled the wine to let it breathe.
  • swirling dust
  • swirling snow
  • swirling clouds

Take the brush and just swirl it into the pressed powder.

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Examples

  • We just do like that much, put it in, swirl it around, He drinks it.

  • And then you're going to swirl it around the pan.

  • I'm just going to kind of swirl that around a touch.

  • I honestly just swirl my brush over the entire thing.

  • So then I'll just swirl the brush on the hand.

  • Take the brush and just swirl it into the pressed powder.

  • So let's suppose that I take a spoon and I start swirling the coffee around.

  • Warships continue to swirl as the action rages on.

  • As the crab moves, water swirls around these creatures, providing them with food and oxygen.

    Academic text (2002)
  • The sky was gray-black, and the winds had picked up, swirling bits of litter over my head.

    Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

to turn
vsto swirl
1.0

Move something so it faces a different direction or side

is more about twisting or spiraling motion rather than simple rotation
to roll
vsto swirl
1.0

To move across the sky or land with a smooth swaying motion

focuses on twisting or spinning rather than simple rotation
to twist
vsto swirl
231 1.7

To turn something so it becomes a curved or spiral shape

is more about general circular or spinning movement, not shape formation
to go around
vsto swirl
78 2.0

Move in a circle around a point, like a planet around the Sun

is about twisting or spiraling motion, not only orbiting around a center
to twirl
vsto swirl
70 2.0

To spin something or yourself quickly and lightly

means similar twisting or circular motion but usually heavier or less playful
to spin around
vsto swirl
38 2.1

To turn your body quickly in a circle many times

is more general and not limited to rotation around own axis
to circle around
vsto swirl
21 2.3

Move in a round path around someone or something

is broader, describing twisting or spinning rather than only circling something
to whirl
vsto swirl
17 2.6

To turn quickly in a circle or twist

moves in twisting, spinning, or circular motion but less focused on speed
to gyrate
vsto swirl
12 6.9

Spin around in circles or spirals

is general twisting or circular motion and not always rapid
to revolve around
vsto swirl
10 3.6

Move in a circle around a central object, like planets around the Sun

is similar but emphasizes spiral or twisting quality rather than mere orbit
to whirl around
vsto swirl
9 3.7

To move quickly in a circle, often through the air

is the same motion but not necessarily continuous or airborne
to spin
vsto swirl
8 4.4

To move in a winding path like a river

applies to any moving matter showing twisting or circular motion
to coil
vsto swirl
7 3.8

To wind something into loops or move in a spiral

describes motion that may twist but not necessarily form fixed loops
to corkscrew
vsto swirl
2 6.8

To move in a twisting spiral path

is broader circular or twisting movement, not limited to spiral paths
to eddy
vsto swirl
1 5.8

To move in a small circle in water or air

is general twisting or circular motion not limited to fluid currents
to gyre
vsto swirl
1 9.2

To move in a circle or spiral

is broader twisting or spinning motion, not only spiral form
to whirlpool
vsto swirl
1 5.8

To move quickly in a circle in water

is about twisting or circular motion but not necessarily strong or liquid
to circumvolute
vsto swirl
  • Specialized
9.9

To wind or twist inward in a spiral like a snail's shell

is general twisting or circular motion without required inward spiral
to purl
vsto swirl
  • Archaic
9.3

To flow quietly and make a soft, pleasant sound like a small stream

is general twisting or circular motion and can be louder or stronger
to wreathe
vsto swirl
7.5

To move in slow twisting ways like smoke or vines

is similar but not limited to slow sinuous movement
to circle round
vsto swirl
3.5

Move around something or someone in a circle

is the general twisting or spinning movement, not limited to circling others

Antonyms

197 3.7

To make something steady so it stops moving or falling

How Fast

to whirl
17 2.6
twirl
15 2.7
to swirl
120 2.7
spin
104 1.1
to rotate
144 3.0
to turn
1.0

Surface Forms

swirl infinitive
swirled past
swirled past participle
swirling present participle
swirls third person singular

Etymology

Swirl as a verb comes from the same old root meaning 'to turn' and is like whirl, so to swirl is to move in a quick circular or twisting way.