MEANING
To turn very quickly, often to face a sound, person, or unexpected event.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- whirl around to face someone
- whirl around at a sound
On the page
She whirled around at the sound of footsteps behind her.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- whirl around
- Past tense
- whirled around
- Past participle
- whirled around
- Present participle
- whirling around
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- whirl around
- Present continuous
- am/is/are whirling around
- Present perfect
- have/has whirled around
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been whirling around
- Past
- whirled around
- Past continuous
- was/were whirling around
- Past perfect
- had whirled around
- Past perfect continuous
- had been whirling around
- Future
- will whirl around
- Future continuous
- will be whirling around
- Future perfect
- will have whirled around
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been whirling around
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Lexical Type: Phrasal Verb. Every future addition must be classified at creation. Commonness: common. Third-person singular: whirls around.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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