swoosh

[ swoosh ]

verb (used without object)

1. to move with or make a rustling, swirling, or brushing sound.
2. to pour out swiftly.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to make or move with a rustling, swirling, or brushing sound.

noun

1. a swirling or rustling sound or movement.

swoosh

/ swʊʃ /

verb

1. to make or cause to make a rustling or swirling sound, esp when moving or pouring out

noun

1. a swirling or rustling sound or movement

Word History and Origins

Origin of swoosh¹

First recorded in 1865–70; imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of swoosh¹

C20: of imitative origin (probably influenced by swish and swoop )

Example Sentences

A key part of their explanation comes from the “swoosh” graph below, which Smith and de Mesquita present in the 2022 edition of "The Dictator’s Handbook."

From Salon

Ted Walsh, former assistant equipment manager for the San Francisco 49ers, got so good at inking the Nike swoosh that he could draw it in the dark.

From Los Angeles Times

With his trademark swoosh of silver hair and his feet up on the bench like a schoolchild, he spoke eagerly in Italian about his first major New York exhibition since his pivotal retrospective, “All,” at the Guggenheim in 2011, in which nearly his entire oeuvre was suspended like a mobile.

From New York Times

The logo’s three airplanes eventually became a line going around the globe, but “today, when you look at the Boeing symbol, which is a circle and a swoosh, that circle is the Earth, and that swoosh are those three airplanes going around the Earth,” Lombardi said.

From Seattle Times

The studies aim to show the costs of traffic, pollution and noise that can come with projects like the gondola, where cabins will swoosh by every 20 seconds carrying up to 5,000 people an hour to the stadium on game days.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• gyrate
• pirouette
• pivot
• revolve
• rotate
• swirl
• twirl
• whir