whirlpool

noun

whirl·​pool ˈ(h)wər(-ə)l-ˌpül How to pronounce whirlpool (audio)
1
a
: a confused tumult and bustle : whirl
b
: a magnetic or impelling force by which something may be engulfed
refusing to be drawn into this whirlpool of intrigueA. D. White
2
a
: water moving rapidly in a circle so as to produce a depression in the center into which floating objects may be drawn : eddy, vortex

Examples of whirlpool in a Sentence

The swimmer was caught in a whirlpool and nearly drowned. in The Odyssey, Ulysses is trapped between the six-headed monster Scylla and Charybdis, a deadly whirlpool that threatens to suck in his ship
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.
Once the debris was cleared, a whirlpool formed and pulled the man down, a witness told firefighters, WISH reported. Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 6 Apr. 2025 Stay Here: Mont Cervin Palace is a 150-room Michelin Key property complete with three restaurants, chateau-style interiors, and a whirlpool with views of the mountains. Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 21 Mar. 2025 United States Geological Survey via AP Another stunning image captured by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory showed whirlpool textures in the lava pond's crustal plates, a phenomenon called lava drainback. CBS News, 21 Mar. 2025 Outside, Farrell was going to install two swimming pools with whirlpool spas, a poolside cabana with a kitchen, a pickleball court, and a garage with room for eight cars. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for whirlpool

Word History

First Known Use

1529, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of whirlpool was in 1529

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Whirlpool.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whirlpool. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

whirlpool

noun
whirl·​pool ˈhwər(-ə)l-ˌpül How to pronounce whirlpool (audio)
ˈwər(-ə)l-
1
: water moving rapidly in a circle with a hollow in the center into which floating objects are drawn : eddy
2

Medical Definition

whirlpool

noun

More from Merriam-Webster on whirlpool

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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