swathe

1 of 2

noun

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswāt͟h 

variants or swath

ˈswät͟h  ˈswäth 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswȯth

1

: a band used in swathing

2

: an enveloping medium

swathe

2 of 2

verb

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswāt͟h 

swathed; swathing

transitive verb

1

: to bind, wrap, or swaddle with or as if with a bandage

2

: envelop

a mountain swathed by clouds

Synonyms of swathe

Verb

• wrap
• shroud
• envelop
• enclose
• bosom

Examples of swathe in a Sentence

Verb

The nurse swathed the wounded soldier's leg in bandages.

Her neck was swathed in jewels.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

My 485-square-foot Junior Suite was swathed in rich red velvet and hues of chrome and cream. —Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 12 June 2026

Sega Bodega) have created with their Arabic shoegaze duo is one swathed in chic esotericism and slow-burning eros. —Spin Staff, SPIN, 1 June 2026

It’s swathed in treasured family recipes passed down through generations, amusing stories and anecdotes exchanged at holiday dinners and events, and daily conversations at random places with random people. —Catharine Kaufman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026

Expect each of these to be swathed in pageantry—but not much more than that. —Charlie Campbell, Time, 7 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English *swæth; akin to Old English swathian to swathe

Verb

Middle English, from Old English swathian

First Known Use

Noun

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

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

swathe

1 of 2 verb

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswāt͟h

swathed; swathing

1

: to bind, wrap, or swaddle with or as if with a bandage

2

: envelop

swathe

2 of 2 noun

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswāt͟h

variants or swath

ˈswät͟h, 

ˈswäth, 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswȯth

: a band used in swathing