twirl

twirl — verb

IPA/twɜːl/
KK[twˈɚl]IPA/twɜːrl/
  • twirlpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • twirlshe / she / it
  • twirledpast simple
  • twirling-ing form

1. to turn something repeatedly with a light, quick motion of your fingers or hand,

1.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to turn something repeatedly with a light, quick motion of your fingers or hand, often wrapping it in a circular path around another object or body part.

Example

Dewi twirled a strand of hair around her finger while thinking about the question.

twirl + hair + around + body part

The chef twirled the spaghetti around his fork before lifting it to his mouth.

Common collocations
  • twirl hair around a finger
  • twirl a pen
  • twirl a baton
  • twirl spaghetti on a fork
Synonyms
  • twist

    more general; can mean winding two things together, not necessarily spinning

  • wind

    focuses on wrapping around an object rather than repeatedly turning

  • roll

    implies moving along a surface or between surfaces, not free spinning in the air

Grammar Patterns

twirl + object + around + noun phrase

Usage Note

Object is typically something long, thin, or flexible — hair, a stick, a ribbon, pasta, a pen.

Common Mistakes

She twirled the door open.
She twirled the key around her finger.
'twirl' describes a circular motion of an object, not the act of opening something.
He twirled his opinion during the debate.
He twirled his pen during the debate.
'twirl' is a physical action, not a mental process.

2. to turn your own body around quickly in a circle, or to make another person or t

2.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to turn your own body around quickly in a circle, or to make another person or thing spin in this way, often as a playful or graceful movement.

Example

Lucía twirled across the dance floor in her new red shoes.

intransitive: twirl across [surface]

Soraya picked up the toddler and twirled her around until both of them were laughing.

transitive: twirl + person + around

Common collocations
  • twirl across the floor
  • twirl someone around
  • twirl on one foot
  • twirl around
Synonyms
  • spin

    broader, more common; can describe any rotating motion, not just body movement

  • whirl

    faster and more forceful; often implies loss of control or dizziness

  • pirouette

    specifically a ballet turn on one foot; more technical

Antonyms

Grammar Patterns

twirl (intransitive): subject + twirl

twirl + object (transitive): subject + twirl + person

Usage Note

When intransitive, the subject twirls their own body. When transitive, the subject makes someone or something else spin. Frequently used in dance, performance, and playful contexts.

Common Mistakes

The Earth twirls around the Sun.
The Earth revolves around the Sun.
'twirl' suggests a light, playful human movement, not a planetary orbit.

twirl — noun

IPA/twɜːl/
KK[twˈɚl]IPA/twɝːl/

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

Spin is the most common and general word for turning around an axis — a child can spin a top, or a dancer can spin across a room. Whirl suggests a much faster, more forceful rotation that often carries a sense of confusion or being out of control ('The leaves whirled in the wind'). Pirouette is a precise technical term from ballet meaning a full turn on one foot; it always implies training and artistic performance. Rotate is the most formal and neutral of the group, used for mechanical or scientific descriptions ('The Earth rotates on its axis'). Twirl sits between spin and whirl in speed but adds a playful, light, often showy quality — someone might twirl a key chain idly or twirl their partner during a dance. You would not typically use twirl for machinery, planetary motion, or situations where seriousness is required.

spin ↗whirl ↗pirouetterotate ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • with a twirl
  • give something a twirl
  • twirl around

Prepositions

Etymology

EnglishScotsGermanic roots

The word 'twirl' appeared in English during the late 1500s, most likely as a combination of 'twist' (to turn or wind) and 'whirl' (to spin rapidly). It may also have been influenced by 'tirl', an old Scottish and Northern English word meaning to turn or unsteady. The blend of these spinning-related sounds created a new word that carries both the controlled, twisting quality of 'twist' and the fast, circular motion of 'whirl'.

First known use

1598

1598, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1 Noun