What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
swirl
Example
The leaves swirled around in the wind. [swirled: past tense]
Example
The artist created a beautiful painting with swirls of color. [swirls: noun]
whirl
Example
The helicopter blades began to whirl faster and faster. [whirl: verb]
Example
She felt a whirl of emotions after hearing the news. [whirl: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Swirl and whirl are both relatively common words, but swirl is more commonly used in everyday language, while whirl is more often used in specific contexts like describing machinery or intense emotions.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between swirl and whirl?
Both swirl and whirl are relatively informal words, but swirl may be slightly more formal due to its association with art and design.
