whoosh

1 of 2

noun

ˈ(h)wüsh  ˈ(h)wu̇sh 

: a swift or explosive rush

also : the sound created by such a rush

—often used interjectionally

whoosh

2 of 2

verb

whooshed; whooshing; whooshes

intransitive verb

: to rush past or move explosively

cars whooshing along the expressway

transitive verb

: to move (a person or thing) with or as if with a whoosh

Examples of whoosh in a Sentence

Verb

Cars whooshed along the highway.

Water whooshed down the pipe.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Ariel remembered telling Maricela to hurry and then feeling a whoosh and hearing a thump behind him. —Melissa Sanchez, ProPublica, 24 Oct. 2024

Residents heard the whoosh and watched as a missile slammed into the bottom of the multistory building, which then sank to the ground, a huge plume of gray smoke rising and debris flying after the strike. —Freddie Clayton, NBC News, 22 Oct. 2024

Verb

But there is no better symbol of Copenhagen than the bicyclists perpetually whooshing through its streets, forcing you to leap out of the way. —Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Oct. 2024

It’s been four years since the water whooshed away. —Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press, 22 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

imitative

First Known Use

Noun

1856, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1909, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Kids Definition

whoosh

1 of 2 noun

ˈhwüsh  ˈwüsh 

ˈhwu̇sh,

wu̇sh

: a swift or explosive rush

also : the sound created by such a rush

whoosh

2 of 2 verb

: to pass or move along with a whoosh

cars whooshing along the highway