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

They have an IP68 rating, fit comfortably under a swim cap, and can be submerged in 2 meters of water for up to two hours at a time.

From Popular-Science

Also, consider making the jump to a saltwater above-ground pool for a more natural, soothing swim.

From Popular-Science

It’s prime mountain biking and trail-running terrain, with quiet beaches for a lonely swim all along the way.

From Outside Online

When you go for a swim in the ocean after applying sunscreen, or shower at the end of the day, some can wash off your body and end up in waterways.

From Time

Somehow she had to wash off the loss and reset for the mile-long swim to come.

From Time

Jones is a veteran of another beloved-yet-controversial animated series on Adult Swim, The Boondocks.

From The Daily Beast

Adult Swim airs ‘In Search of Miracle Man,’ its follow up to ‘Too Many Cooks,’ the deranged late-night comedy clip gone viral.

From The Daily Beast

He walked down to the beach anyway, in the rain, and went for a long swim.

From The Daily Beast

Her downfall came about, because for a second she forgot that to swim in the shark pool, you have to always act like a shark.

From The Daily Beast

My father used to swim in these fountains, to cool off from the heat and to make my mother laugh.

From The Daily Beast

But, do you know, I have a notion to go down to the beach and take a good wash and even a little swim, before dinner?

From Project Gutenberg

She felt her sails flapping about her, but none the less was she determined to reach her goal if she had to get out and swim.

From Project Gutenberg

Swim to the edge of the moat and, clambering out, take to his legs was naturally the first impulse.

From Project Gutenberg

He abandoned his grip of the wall and began to swim gently toward the eastern angle.

From Project Gutenberg

So, when they saw the land quite near, what did they do but leap overboard, and swim towards it!

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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