What does "whoosh" mean?
A breathy sound like that of an object passing at high speed.
Whoosh
/ʍʊʃ/ intj, noun, verb, slang
intj, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A breathy sound like that of an object passing at high speed.
- Grammar: whoosh is listed as intj, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: swoosh, assibilate, assibilation, audio cue.
- Useful contrasts: calm, crawl, creep.
- Usage evidence: I hear the buzz of a fan, the drip of the faucet, the hum of the fridge, the tick of the clock, the whoosh of cars passing by the house.
How to use "whoosh"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "whoosh" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "whoosh" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "whoosh" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "whoosh" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "whoosh" is acting as intj, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "swoosh" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "whoosh", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A breathy sound like that of an object passing at high speed.
"The snow burst through the trees with no warning but a last-second whoosh of sound, a two-story wall of white and Chris Rudolph’s piercing cry: “Avalanche! Elyse!”"
- 2 the noise produced by the sudden rush of a fluid (a gas or liquid) wordnet
- 3 A homicide by shooting. Multicultural-London-English, slang
- 4 A gun. Multicultural-London-English, slang
Verb
- 1 To make a breathy sound like a whoosh. intransitive
- 2 gush or squirt out wordnet
- 3 To pass by quickly. ambitransitive
- 4 move with a whooshing sound wordnet
- 5 To pass by quickly.; To happen while bypassing someone's detailed awareness, to have someone miss the point. ambitransitive, figuratively, intransitive
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 move with a sibilant sound wordnet
- 7 To cause to pass quickly. transitive
"Twitter whooshed your tweet away before I read all of it lmao."
- 8 To kill by gun, to shoot. Multicultural-London-English, slang, transitive
"Man do it for the team Kick him and swing him on landing The olders are whooshed Brass and bruck I promise all of them has been (dun out 'ere)"
Intj
- 1 Imitates anything passing by quickly and more or less close.
"I was batting when Nikki sent down a lollipop and whoosh, what a shot."
- 2 Indicating that somebody has missed the point (i.e. it went over their head). sarcastic
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"I hear the buzz of a fan, the drip of the faucet, the hum of the fridge, the tick of the clock, the whoosh of cars passing by the house."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "whoosh"?
Common synonyms include: swoosh, assibilate, assibilation, audio cue, bam, boom.
How do you use "whoosh" in a sentence?
I hear the buzz of a fan, the drip of the faucet, the hum of the fridge, the tick of the clock, the whoosh of cars passing by the house.
How do you pronounce "whoosh"?
Pronounced /ʍʊʃ/.
Etymology
Of imitative origin.