Swish: meaning, definitions and examples

Commonly used to describe the sound of something moving smoothly through the air or space, often in a repetitive motion.

• The basketball swished through the hoop.
• Her dress swished as she walked down the stairs.

Often associated with a quick, smooth movement through the air, frequently used in branding (such as Nike).

• The jogger's shoes made a swoosh sound as he ran by.
• You could hear the swoosh of the wind through the trees.

Imitates the sound of something moving rapidly and smoothly through the air, usually creating a sense of speed and momentum.

• The door shut with a loud whoosh.
• Whoosh! The roller coaster zipped past us.

Describes a high-speed motion, usually with a sense of excitement or amazement. May have an informal tone.

• The car whizzed by in a flash of red.
• He is a tech whiz, always finding the latest gadgets.

Swish is often used to describe a smooth, soft sound or movement, especially in the context of clothing, fabric, or a fast, gliding motion.

• She could hear the swish of her dress as she walked across the room.
• The basketball made a satisfying swish as it went through the net.

Swoosh is commonly associated with a faster, sweeping sound or movement, often used in sports or in describing the motion of fast objects through air or water.

• The runners could hear the swoosh of the wind in their ears.
• You can see the swoosh of the Nike logo on their shoes.

Whoosh generally conveys a sudden, fast movement with a rushing noise, often used to describe the passage of air or water.

• She felt the whoosh of the train as it sped past the platform.
• There was a whoosh of air as he opened the door.

Whiz is used to describe something or someone moving very quickly, often with a high-pitched sound. It can also be used informally to describe someone who is very skilled at something.

• The bullets began to whiz past their heads.
• She’s a real whiz at solving math problems.