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View synonyms for

swim

[swim]

verb (used without object)

swam, swum, swimming. 
  1. to move in water by movements of the limbs, fins, tail, etc.

  2. to float on the surface of water or some other liquid.

  3. to move, rest, or be suspended in air as if swimming in water.

  4. to move, glide, or go smoothly over a surface.

  5. to be immersed or steeped in or overflowing or flooded with a liquid.

    eyes swimming with tears.

  6. to be dizzy or giddy; seem to whirl.

    My head began to swim.



verb (used with object)

swam, swum, swimming. 
  1. to move along in or cross (a body of water) by swimming.

    to swim a lake.

  2. to perform (a particular stroke) in swimming.

    to swim a sidestroke.

  3. to cause to swim or float, as on a stream.

  4. to furnish with sufficient water to swim or float.

noun

  1. an act, instance, or period of swimming.

  2. a motion as of swimming; a smooth, gliding movement.

swim

/ ɪ /

verb

  1. (intr) to move along in water, etc, by means of movements of the body or parts of the body, esp the arms and legs, or (in the case of fish) tail and fins

  2. (tr) to cover (a distance or stretch of water) in this way

  3. (tr) to compete in (a race) in this way

  4. (intr) to be supported by and on a liquid; float

  5. (tr) to use (a particular stroke) in swimming

  6. (intr) to move smoothly, usually through air or over a surface

  7. (intr) to reel or seem to reel

    my head swam

    the room swam around me

  8. (intr; often foll by in or with) to be covered or flooded with water or other liquid

  9. to be liberally supplied (with)

    he's swimming in money

  10. (tr) to cause to float or swim

  11. (tr) to provide (something) with water deep enough to float in

  12. to resist prevailing opinion

  13. to conform to prevailing opinion

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act, an instance, or period of swimming

  2. any graceful gliding motion

  3. a condition of dizziness; swoon

  4. a pool in a river good for fishing

  5. informalfashionable or active in social or political activities

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • swimmable adjective
  • swimmer noun
  • nonswimmer noun
  • outswim verb
  • ˈɾԲ noun
  • ˈɾ adjective
  • ˈɾ noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of swim1

First recorded before 900; Middle English swimmen, Old English swimman; cognate with Dutch zwemmen, German schwimmen, Old Norse svimma
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Word History and Origins

Origin of swim1

Old English swimman; related to Old Norse svima, German schwimmen, Gothic swumsl pond, Norwegian svamla to paddle
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. in the swim, alert to or actively engaged in events; in the thick of things.

    Despite her age, she is still in the swim.

In addition to the idioms beginning with swim, also see in the swim; sink or swim.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Breaking a world record in track or swimming sprint events will trigger a $1 million payout to the athlete, one of several performance bonuses promised by Enhanced.

From

She took the decision to cancel swimming lessons after spotting four masked men near the centre.

From

She said he had lost interest in swimming and had not returned to the club he had been a member of for 15 years.

From

Northern Ireland Assembly Member Danny Donnelly said the leisure centre was being used by families and children for swimming and classes at the time of attack.

From

Eleven months later, his oldest son, Eugene, died in a swimming pool accident after hitting his head at 23.

From

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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swillswim against the current