1
: something that is swollen
specifically
: an abnormal bodily protuberance or localized enlargement
2
: the condition of being swollen
Examples of swelling in a Sentence
There was a swelling above her eye.
The swelling around her eye should subside in a few days.
Recent Examples on the Web
That’s why unexplained swelling, pain, chest discomfort or shortness of breath should always prompt immediate medical attention.
—
Daryl Austin, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Consumers with food allergies should stop eating the product and should seek medical attention or use emergency medication such as epinephrine for any reactions or symptoms, including hives, skin rash, itching or tingling mouth, coughing, trouble breathing, nausea, facial swelling, or anaphylaxis.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2025
Lyme disease, commonly transmitted through tick bites, can initially cause flu-like symptoms but may escalate to include joint swelling, brain fog, nerve damage, and even facial paralysis if untreated, according to Mayo Clinic.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 31 July 2025
Then, detail all of your symptoms, don’t just point to the rash—talk about the itch, any swelling, your fatigue and the impact on your mental health.
—Taylor Lane, Flow Space, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for swelling
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Daryl Austin, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Consumers with food allergies should stop eating the product and should seek medical attention or use emergency medication such as epinephrine for any reactions or symptoms, including hives, skin rash, itching or tingling mouth, coughing, trouble breathing, nausea, facial swelling, or anaphylaxis.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 4 Aug. 2025
Lyme disease, commonly transmitted through tick bites, can initially cause flu-like symptoms but may escalate to include joint swelling, brain fog, nerve damage, and even facial paralysis if untreated, according to Mayo Clinic.
—Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 31 July 2025
Then, detail all of your symptoms, don’t just point to the rash—talk about the itch, any swelling, your fatigue and the impact on your mental health.
—Taylor Lane, Flow Space, 23 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for swelling
Cite this Entry
“Swelling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swelling. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
swelling
noun
swell·ing
ˈswel-iŋ- 
: an abnormal bodily protuberance or localized enlargement
an inflammatory swelling
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