What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
whirls
Example
The dancers twirled and whirled around the ballroom. [whirled: verb]
Example
The leaves were caught in a whirl of wind and carried away. [whirl: noun]
spin
Example
The top spun around and around on the table. [spun: past tense]
Example
The car spun out of control on the icy road. [spin: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Spin is more commonly used than whirl in everyday language, especially in contexts related to physics, sports, or entertainment. Whirl is less common and tends to be used in more specific contexts, such as describing a swirling motion of air or water.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between whirls and spin?
Both whirl and spin are versatile words that can be used in various formality levels, from casual to formal. However, spin may have a more technical or specialized connotation in certain fields, such as science or politics.