What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
whirling
Example
The helicopter blades were whirling at full speed. [whirling: present participle]
Example
After the carnival ride, I felt like the world was whirling around me. [whirling: verb]
spinning
Example
The Earth is constantly spinning on its axis. [spinning: present participle]
Example
I like to go spinning at the gym for my cardio workout. [spinning: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Spinning is more commonly used than whirling in everyday language. Spinning has a wider range of contexts, including exercise, dance, and the movement of objects, while whirling is more specific and often used to describe the sensation of dizziness or the movement of objects.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between whirling and spinning?
Both whirling and spinning are relatively informal words, but spinning can be used in more formal contexts, such as in scientific or technical writing, to describe the movement of objects around an axis.
