swallow

²swallow

verb

Definition of SWALLOW

transitive verb

1

: to take through the mouth and esophagus into the stomach

2

: to envelop or take in as if by swallowing : absorb <swallow the financial loss> <watch night swallow the valley>

3

: to accept without question, protest, or resentment <swallow an insult> <a hard story to swallow>

4

: take back, retract <had to swallow my words>

5

: to keep from expressing or showing : repress <swallowed my anger>

6

: to utter (as words) indistinctly

intransitive verb

1

: to receive something into the body through the mouth and esophagus

2

: to perform the action characteristic of swallowing something especially under emotional stress

— swal·low·able \ˈswä-lō-ə-bəl\ adjective

— swal·low·er \ˈswä-lə-wər\ noun

Examples of SWALLOW

1. He swallowed the grape whole.
2. Chew your food well before you swallow.
3. The boss said, “Come in.” I swallowed hard and walked in.
4. Her story is pretty hard to swallow.
5. I can usually take criticism, but this is more than I can swallow.

Origin of SWALLOW

Middle English swalowen, from Old English swelgan; akin to Old High German swelgan to swallow

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SWALLOW

Synonyms: down, get down, ingest

Antonyms: disbelieve, discredit, reject

Related Words: drink, guzzle, imbibe, knock back, sip; bolt, devour, gobble (up or down), gulp, ingurgitate; consume, eat, mouth (down), put away, sup; gorge, scarf, scoff, wolf; chew, gnaw (at or on), lap, lick, munch, nibble (on), peck (at), ruminate; dispatch, finish, polish off

Near Antonyms: express, loose, release, take out, unleash, vent

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Rhymes with SWALLOW

follow, hollo, hollow, wallow