whisk

American  

[hwisk, wisk] / ʰwɪsk, wɪsk /

verb (used with object)

1. to move with a rapid, sweeping stroke.

   She whisked everything off the table with her arm.

2. to sweep (dust, crumbs, etc., or a surface) with a whisk broom, brush, or the like.

3. to draw, snatch, carry, etc., lightly and rapidly.

   He whisked the money into his pocket.

4. to whip (eggs, cream, etc.) to a froth with a whisk or beating instrument.

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verb (used without object)

1. to sweep, pass, or go lightly and rapidly.

noun

1. an act of whisking.

2. a rapid, sweeping stroke; light, rapid movement.

3. whisk broom.

4. a small bunch of grass, straw, hair, or the like, especially for use in brushing.

5. an implement, usually a bunch of wire loops held together in a handle, for beating or whipping eggs, cream, etc.

whisk British  

/ wɪsk /

verb

1. (tr; often foll by away or off) to brush, sweep, or wipe off lightly

2. (tr) to move, carry, etc, with a light or rapid sweeping motion

   the taxi whisked us to the airport

3. (intr) to move, go, etc, quickly and nimbly

   to whisk downstairs for a drink

4. (tr) to whip (eggs, cream, etc) to a froth

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noun

1. the act of whisking

2. a light rapid sweeping movement or stroke

3. a utensil, often incorporating a coil of wires, for whipping eggs, etc

4. a small brush or broom

5. a small bunch or bundle, as of grass, straw, etc

Other Word Forms

• unwhisked adjective

Etymology

Origin of whisk

1325–75; (noun) Middle English ( Scots ) wysk rapid sweeping movement; (v.) earlier Scots wisk, quhisk < Scandinavian; compare Old Norse, Norwegian visk wisp, Swedish viska besom, wisp, to whisk (off ), Danish viske to wipe (compare Old High German wisken to wipe, wisc wisp of hay); for development of wh whip

Explanation

When you whisk something, you stir it quickly and lightly with a kitchen tool also called a whisk. Grab that whisk and whisk those eggs! Most whisks have long handles and curved wire loops, a design that makes it easy to beat air into ingredients as you whisk them. Before the metal whisk was invented in the mid-19th century, cooks used bundles of twigs to whisk batters. You can also use whisk to mean "move quickly," so you might say, "Her parents managed to whisk her off to school before she was truly awake."

Example Sentences

Heels click on cracked paving stones as fantastically long-limbed men and women practice moves they hope will whisk them away from South Sudan, one of the fashion world's favourite scouting locations.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

In April, the court twice ruled — including in a post-midnight order — that the Trump administration could not secretly whisk immigrants out of the country without giving them a hearing before a judge.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 1, 2026

At the heart of its success story has been a promise to customers: we'll whisk your trash out of sight, and you won't have to think about it.

From BBC • Jul. 26, 2025

But keep your whisk moving, and you’ll feel it: the moment the sauce thickens, holds, and gleams just slightly.

From Salon • Jun. 5, 2025

Break a rule in front of her, put just one toe out of line, and she’d whisk off for Filch, who’d appear, wheezing, two seconds later.

From "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" by J.K. Rowling

Related Words

• dart
• dash
• hurry
• whip
• wipe