swim

[ swim ]

verb (used without object)

, swam [swam], swum [swuhm], swim·ming [swim, -ing].

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 [swam], swum [swuhm], swim·ming [swim, -ing].

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

/ swɪm /

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. introften foll byin 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. swim against the tide or swim against the stream
    to resist prevailing opinion
13. swim with the tide or swim with the stream
    to conform to prevailing opinion

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. in the swim informal.
   fashionable or active in social or political activities

Derived Forms

• ˈswimming, nounadjective
• ˈswimmable, adjective
• ˈswimmer, noun

Other Words From

• swimma·ble adjective
• swimmer noun
• non·swimmer noun
• outswim verb outswam outswum outswimming

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of swim¹

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

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.

More idioms and phrases containing swim

• in the swim
• sink or swim

Example Sentences

The same year his showman's instincts saw him swim two miles down the River Thames to highlight opposition to Margaret Thatcher's government policy of dumping nuclear waste at sea.

From BBC

She uses the analogy of teaching children to swim, rather than banning them from the water.

From BBC

“The two of us went swimming, with me in Natalie Wood’s bathing suit, and we had a great time.”

From Salon

To test this, the researchers recorded brain activity in mice during behaviors that alter breathing, such as sniffing, swimming, and drinking, as well as during conditions that induce fear and anxiety.

From Science Daily

His best option, he decided, was to swim across a small river.

From BBC

Related Words

• bathe
• crawl
• dive
• float
• glide
• paddle
• submerge
• wade