plural eddies
1
a
: a current of water or air running contrary to the main current
especially
: a circular current : whirlpool
b
: something moving similarly
2
: a contrary or circular current (as of thought or policy)
eddied; eddying
: to cause to move in an eddy
: to move in an eddy or in the manner of an eddy
Examples of eddy in a Sentence
Noun
The boat was caught in a powerful eddy.
Verb
The wind gusted and eddied around us.
The waves swirled and eddied against the pier.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 17 Sep. 2024
As a common natural phenomenon observed in fluids — moving water, ocean currents, blood flow, billowing storm clouds and plumes of smoke — turbulent flow is chaotic, as larger swirls or eddies, form and break down into smaller ones.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 19 Sep. 2024
Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023
Soccer has a habit of undervaluing these sorts of cultural shifts, and as a result misunderstanding the currents that eddy and swirl around it, invisibly and inexorably shaping its reality.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 23 June 2023
See all Example Sentences for eddy 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Further Reading Swirling patterns in Starry Night match those in gassy star nurseries
In physics, turbulence relates to strong, sudden movements within air or water, usually marked by eddies and vortices.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 17 Sep. 2024
As a common natural phenomenon observed in fluids — moving water, ocean currents, blood flow, billowing storm clouds and plumes of smoke — turbulent flow is chaotic, as larger swirls or eddies, form and break down into smaller ones.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 19 Sep. 2024
Verb
The crowd eddied, some with batons dancing concentrically around the wheel of fire, others collecting around two young men in white.
—Aatish Taseer, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2023
Soccer has a habit of undervaluing these sorts of cultural shifts, and as a result misunderstanding the currents that eddy and swirl around it, invisibly and inexorably shaping its reality.
—Rory Smith, New York Times, 23 June 2023
See all Example Sentences for eddy
Dictionary Entries Near eddy
Cite this Entry
“Eddy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eddy. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
eddy
1 of 2 noun
ed·dy
ˈed-ē 
plural eddies
: a current of air or water running against the main current or in a circle
eddy
2 of 2 verb
eddied; eddying
: to move in an eddy or in a way that forms an eddy
Biographical Definition
Eddy
biographical name
Ed·dy
ˈe-dē
Mary (Morse) 1821–1910 née Baker American founder of the Christian Science Church
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share