swim

1 of 3

verb

ˈswim 

swam ˈswam  ; swum ˈswəm  ; swimming

intransitive verb

1

a

: to propel oneself in water by natural means (such as movements of the limbs, fins, or tail)

b

: to play in the water (as at a beach or swimming pool)

2

: to move with a motion like that of swimming : glide

a cloud swam slowly across the moon

3

a

: to float on a liquid : not sink

b

: to surmount difficulties : not go under

sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish

—Daniel Webster

4

: to become immersed in or flooded with or as if with a liquid

potatoes swimming in gravy

5

: to have a floating or reeling appearance or sensation

transitive verb

1

a

: to cross by propelling oneself through water

swim a stream

b

: to execute in swimming

2

: to cause to swim or float

swim

2 of 3

noun

1

: a smooth gliding motion

2

: an act or period of swimming

3

: a temporary dizziness or unconsciousness

4

a

: an area frequented by fish

b

: the main current of activity

in the swim

swim

3 of 3

adjective

: of, relating to, or used in or for swimming

Synonyms

Verb

• reel
• spin
• turn
• whirl

Noun

• blackout
• faint
• insensibility
• knockout
• swoon
• syncope

Examples of swim in a Sentence

Verb

He's teaching the children to swim.

She swam across the pool.

He swam the English Channel.

The racers must swim the backstroke.

We watched the fish swimming in the river.

Ducks swam in the pond.

I felt weak and my head was swimming.

The room swam before my eyes.

Noun

the merest glimpse of blood sends him into a swim

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Mussels swim in a rich coconut milk sauce with chunks of red onions, garlic and lemongrass, creating an aromatic and sinus-cleansing dish that’s ideal for winter. —Kaitlyn Rosati, New York Daily News, 25 Dec. 2024

Visitors come to this area to hike, camp, fish, hunt, swim, and tube down the river. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 24 Dec. 2024

Noun

Just then, a van showed up and took them to a hospital, where they were greeted by a vacationing Swedish doctor still in his swim trunks. —Michael Fiorentino, NBC News, 26 Dec. 2024

And on New Year’s Day, the party ends with a bracing swim in the chilly waters of the Firth of Forth. —Chris Ciolli, AFAR Media, 23 Dec. 2024

Adjective

Team Great Britain also mentioned their triathletes would be thoroughly scrubbed down with disinfectant after swimming, another strategy Dr. Sullivan greenlights—and the sooner post-swim, the better. —SELF, 5 Aug. 2024

From fit, lining, waistband, fabric, and occasion, board shorts actually differ from swim trunks in many ways. —Maverick Li, menshealth.com, 5 May 2023

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English swimmen, from Old English swimman; akin to Old High German swimman to swim

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1924, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing swim

• go/swim with/against the tide
• in/into the swim (of things)
• sink or swim
• swim bladder
• swim fin
• swim meet

Kids Definition

swim

1 of 2 verb

ˈswim 

swam ˈswam  ; swum ˈswəm  ; swimming

1

: to move through water by moving arms, legs, fins, or tail

2

: to float on or in or be covered with or as if with a liquid

3

: to feel dizzy

my head swam in the stuffy room

4

: to cross by swimming

swim a stream

swimmer noun

swim

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act or period of swimming

2

: the main current of activity

in the swim of things