whir
gb/wˈɪɹ/ us/wˈɪɹ/
B2
English
zúg, surrog, zúgás, surrogás, elsuhan, átszáguld, jár az agya, kavarog, rebbenés
VERB
B2
1
Usage pattern:
[something] whirs; [something] whirs around/overhead
The ceiling fan whirred all night.
A mennyezeti ventilátor egész éjjel zúgott.
The drone whirred overhead, then disappeared behind the trees.
A drón a fejünk felett surrogott, aztán eltűnt a fák mögött.
The printer whirred as it pulled the paper through.
Learner examples
The fan is whirring.
A ventilátor zúg.
I heard the motor whir.
Hallottam, ahogy a motor zúg.
Common mistake:
Learners often confuse whir with whirl (to spin around) or use the spelling whirr; both spellings are common for this sound.
Meaning
make a soft rapid humming sound
Collocations
fan whirs
|motor whirs
|engine whirs
|computer whirs
|blender whirs
|machine whirs
|wings whir
|propeller whirs
|whir softly
|whir loudly
Synonyms
whirr (Very common alternative spelling for the same sound.)
|
hum (More general; often smoother and less ‘spinning’.)
|
buzz (Often sharper or more insect-like.)
Antonyms
fall silent (Stop making any sound.)
|
stop (Cease operating or moving, so the sound ends.)
Themes
daily_life
|technology
|nature
|sounds
Definition
To make a quiet, fast sound like a machine or wings.
To make a continuous low sound like something spinning fast, such as a fan, motor, or wings.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
the whir of [something]
I could hear the whir of the dishwasher through the door.
Az ajtón át is hallottam a mosogatógép zúgását.
The room was quiet except for the whir of the laptop fan.
A szoba csendes volt, a laptop ventilátorának zúgásán kívül.
A sudden whir came from inside the old machine.
Learner examples
There is a whir in the room.
Zúgás hallatszik a szobában.
I heard the whir of the fan.
Hallottam a ventilátor zúgását.
Common mistake:
Learners may write whirr as the noun; that spelling is also widely used.
Meaning
soft rapid humming sound
Collocations
the whir of a fan
|the whir of an engine
|the whir of machinery
|a faint whir
|a soft whir
|a loud whir
|background whir
|steady whir
Synonyms
whirr (Very common spelling for the same noun.)
|
hum (More general background sound.)
|
buzz (Often higher-pitched or more irritating.)
Antonyms
silence (Complete lack of sound.)
|
stillness (No movement or operating noise.)
Themes
daily_life
|technology
|nature
|sounds
Definition
A quiet, fast sound like a fan or motor.
A continuous low sound like something spinning fast, especially a machine or wings.
VERB
C1
3
Usage pattern:
[something] whirs by/past; [something] whirs along/down [place]
Bikes whirred past on the path.
Biciklik suhantak el az ösvényen.
The train whirred through the station without stopping.
A vonat megállás nélkül átszáguldott az állomáson.
A small robot whirred across the floor toward the wall.
Learner examples
Cars whirred by.
Az autók elsuhantak.
The bike whirred past me.
A bicikli elsuhant mellettem.
Common mistake:
Do not use whir for slow movement; it suggests speed and often a light mechanical sound.
Meaning
move quickly with a whir
Collocations
whir by
|whir past
|whir along
|whir down the road
|whir through the air
Synonyms
zoom (More informal; emphasizes speed more than sound.)
|
speed (Neutral; does not suggest a specific sound.)
|
whizz (Often suggests a sharper, higher sound.)
Antonyms
crawl (Move very slowly.)
|
trudge (Walk slowly and heavily.)
Themes
travel
|daily_life
|movement
Definition
To go past quickly, sometimes making a soft machine-like sound.
To move quickly, often passing by, sometimes with a soft spinning or humming sound.
VERB
C1
4
jár az agya
B2
kavarog
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s mind/brain/thoughts whir
My mind was still whirring after the meeting.
A megbeszélés után még mindig járt az agyam.
As she tried to sleep, her thoughts kept whirring.
Ahogy aludni próbált, csak kavarogtak a gondolatai.
New ideas whirred through his head on the way home.
Learner examples
My mind is whirring.
Jár az agyam.
Her thoughts were whirring.
Kavarogtak a gondolatai.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use whirl here; whir focuses on fast, continuous activity (like a machine) rather than physical spinning.
Meaning
be busy thinking quickly
Collocations
mind whirs
|thoughts whir
|brain whirs
|ideas whir
|whir with possibilities
|whir with worry
Synonyms
race (Common phrase ‘thoughts are racing’; emphasizes speed.)
|
spin (Often suggests confusion or dizziness.)
Antonyms
settle (Become calm and steady (of thoughts).)
|
relax (Stop feeling tense; thinking becomes calmer.)
Themes
emotions
|mind
|health
Definition
To think very fast and not be able to stop.
To have thoughts moving quickly and continuously, especially from excitement, worry, or mental effort.
NOUN
C1
5
Usage pattern:
a whir of [wings/activity]
With a whir of wings, the bird lifted off.
Szárnyak surrogásával a madár felröppent.
There was a brief whir as the helicopter blades gathered speed.
Rövid surrogás hallatszott, ahogy a helikopter rotorlapátjai felpörögtek.
The office went from silence to a whir of activity in minutes.
Learner examples
I heard a whir of wings.
Szárnyak surrogását hallottam.
There was a sudden whir.
Hirtelen surrogás hallatszott.
Common mistake:
This sense is often used with of (a whir of wings).
Meaning
rapid fluttering or spinning motion
Collocations
a whir of wings
|a sudden whir
|a whir of activity
Synonyms
flutter (More common; focuses on light wing movement.)
|
flurry (Sudden brief burst of movement or activity.)
Antonyms
stillness (No movement.)
|
pause (A stop in movement or activity.)
Themes
nature
|movement
|sounds
Definition
A quick, fast movement, especially of wings.
A brief, rapid movement that suggests fast spinning or fluttering, especially of wings.
Grammar
Dictionary form
whir
IPA
GB/wˈɪɹ/
US/wˈɪɹ/
Syllables & stress
whir (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (whir)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: whir
- Plural: whirs
Verb
- Base: whir
- 3rd Person Singular: whirrs, whirs
- Present Participle: whirring
- Past: whirred
- Past Participle: whirred
Expressions
set [someone]'s mind/thoughts whirring
1/sˈɛt sˈoʊmˈoʊnz mˈɪndθˈɔts wˈɚɪŋ/
fixed phrase
make someone think rapidly
To make someone think very fast.
Examples
- The email set my mind whirring with possibilities.
- His comment set her thoughts whirring all afternoon.
- The sudden noise set their minds whirring about what had happened.
Learner examples
- The news set my mind whirring.
- That idea set her thoughts whirring.
whir away
1/wˈɪɹ əwˈeɪ/
phrasal verb
run or work continuously
To keep working with a soft machine sound.
Examples
- The air conditioner whirred away in the background.
- While we talked, the washing machine whirred away in the kitchen.
- The servers whirred away all night in the data center.
Learner examples
- The fan is whirring away.
- The machine whirred away.
whir by
1/wˈɪɹ bˈaɪ/
phrasal verb
pass quickly with a soft sound
To go past very fast.
Examples
- A cyclist whirred by before I could step aside.
- Cars whirred by on the wet road.
- The scenery whirred by outside the window.
Learner examples
- Bikes whirred by.
- Cars whirred by.
whir into life
1/wˈɪɹ ˈɪntu lˈaɪf/
fixed phrase
start operating suddenly
To start working (like a machine).
Examples
- The old generator whirred into life after a few tries.
- As soon as I pressed the button, the projector whirred into life.
- The robot whirred into life and rolled forward.
Learner examples
- The machine whirred into life.
- The fan whirred into life.