swinging

American  

[swing-ing] / ˈswɪŋ ɪŋ /

adjective

superlative

swingingest

1. characterized by or capable of swinging, being swung, or causing to swing.

2. intended for swinging upon, by, from, or in.

   the swinging devices in a playground.

3. Slang. excellent; first-rate.

4. Slang. lively, active, and modern; hip.

5. Slang.

   1. free and uninhibited sexually.

      a swinging bachelor.

   2. exchanging spouses for sex.

      swinging married couples.

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noun

1. the activity or act of a person who swings.

2. Slang.

   1. the act or practice of being free and uninhibited sexually.

   2. the exchanging of spouses for sex.

swinging British  

/ ˈswɪŋɪŋ /

adjective

1. moving rhythmically to and fro

2. slang modern and lively

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noun

1. slang the practice of swapping sexual partners in a group, esp habitually

Other Word Forms

• swingingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of swinging

First recorded in 1550–60; swing ¹ + -ing ²

Example Sentences

The firm reported a statutory pre-tax profit of £8.3m in the year to September, swinging from a £16.2m pre-tax loss a year earlier.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

David Smith, head of the marine arm at specialist insurance broker McGill, estimated last week that premiums were swinging "between three and-a-half and 10 percent" of a vessel's value.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

Food inflation eased slightly to 3.4% from 3.5% a month earlier, while prices of non-food goods increased by 0.1% on year, swinging from deflation of 0.1% in Feburary, the report showed.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026

The pilot episode, “The First Book of Taylor,” explores the fallout of the swinging scandal and ends with Paul’s 2023 arrest.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

Because as long as our legs were moving and our arms were swinging at our sides, we always got along.

From "Keeping Pace" by Laurie Morrison

Related Words

• fluctuating