What does woosh mean?
Woosh names the rushing sound or sudden movement of air produced by something moving quickly. It may refer to the sound itself, as in the woosh of a passing train, or to the swift movement that creates it. As a verb, woosh describes something that moves past with such a sound: a cyclist wooshed around the corner, while the door wooshed shut in the wind. The word is also used as a sound effect, reproducing the impression of swift passage or a sudden burst of moving air. Its vivid, imitative character makes it especially effective in storytelling, journalism, informal description, and speech. It is not usually used in formal or technical writing, where more precise terms may be preferable. Although “whoosh” is also encountered, “woosh” is the more common modern spelling. Overall, woosh combines an audible quality with a strong suggestion of speed, making it useful whenever movement needs to be conveyed in a single expressive word.
A rushing or swishing sound, especially one made by something moving quickly through the air; also, a sudden rapid movement of that kind.
"He heard a loud woosh as the aircraft passed overhead."
The noun is commonly used in narrative and descriptive writing and as an onomatopoeic sound effect.
To move rapidly with a rushing sound, or to make such a sound.
"The curtains wooshed in the draft."
Usually informal; it combines the description of motion with an imitation of the accompanying sound.
The plural is used when referring to separate sounds or movements of this kind.
"Several loud wooshes came from the hallway."
Woosh turns the movement of air into a word you can hear: one short syllable that imitates the rush of something passing by.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of woosh
Woosh originated in the early nineteenth century as an imitative word created to represent a rushing or swishing sound. Its form reflects the sound it describes, and there are no well-established cognates in another language. The alternative spelling “whoosh” developed from the same imitative sound.
Related word forms
How woosh is actually used
Woosh is mainly informal and is especially common in narrative writing, descriptions of movement, and sound effects. Its imitative character makes it more vivid than a general term such as “rush,” but it is rarely appropriate in formal or technical prose.
Easily confused with woosh
Whoosh is an alternative spelling of the same word and is pronounced identically, although woosh is more commonly used in modern English.