variants or whizz
whizzed; whizzing

intransitive verb

1
: to hum, whir, or hiss like a speeding object (such as an arrow or ball) passing through air
2
: to fly or move swiftly especially with a whiz
cars whizzing by

transitive verb

: to cause to whiz
especially : to rotate very rapidly

whiz

2 of 3

noun (1)

variants or whizz
plural whizzes
1
: a hissing, buzzing, or whirring sound
2
: a movement or passage of something accompanied by a whizzing sound
3
sometimes vulgar : an act of urinating
used especially in the phrase take a whiz

whiz

3 of 3

noun (2)

plural whizzes
: wizard sense 2
a math whiz

Examples of whiz in a Sentence

Verb The ball whizzed through the air. Cars whizzed by on the highway. He whizzed past us on skates.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Verb
The movement to crack down on the hazardous debris whizzing through outer space has seemed to strengthen in recent years. Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024 This top-deck attraction features BOLT, a roller coaster that whizzes around a track at 64 mph, plus an eye-popping high ropes course, mini golf, waterslides, and a splash park. Kerry Spencer, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Dec. 2024
Noun
Food science whiz and television personality Alton Brown knows a thing or two about putting together a recipe that works. Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 13 Dec. 2024 But history chooses unlikely heroes, and when a robot apocalypse descends upon their party, they’re forced to team up with Laura (Rachel Zegler), the most popular girl at school and a computer whiz in her own right, to save what’s left of the world. Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 6 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for whiz 

Word History

Etymology

Verb

imitative

Noun (2)

probably by shortening & alteration

First Known Use

Verb

1582, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1914, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of whiz was in 1582

Dictionary Entries Near whiz

Cite this Entry

“Whiz.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whiz. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

whiz

1 of 3 verb
whizzed; whizzing
1
: to hum, buzz, or hiss like a speeding object (as an arrow or ball) passing through air
2
: to fly, pass, or move swiftly with a buzzing sound
cars whizzing by
whizzer noun

whiz

2 of 3 noun
variants or whizz
plural whizzes
: a humming, buzzing, or hissing sound

whiz

3 of 3 noun
plural whizzes
: wizard sense 2
a math whiz
Etymology

Verb

probably coined in imitation of the sound of a speeding object going by

Noun

probably a shortened and altered form of wizard

More from Merriam-Webster on whiz

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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