swim

¹swim

verb \ˈswim\

swam\ˈswam\swum\ˈswəm\swim·ming

Definition of SWIM

intransitive verb

1

a : to propel oneself in water by natural means (as movements of the limbs, fins, or tail) b : to play in the water (as at a beach or swimming pool)

2

: to move with a motion like that of swimming : glide <a cloud swam slowly across the moon>

3

a : to float on a liquid : not sink b : to surmount difficulties : not go under <sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish — Daniel Webster>

4

: to become immersed in or flooded with or as if with a liquid <potatoes swimming in gravy>

5

: to have a floating or reeling appearance or sensation

transitive verb

1

a : to cross by propelling oneself through water <swim a stream> b : to execute in swimming

2

: to cause to swim or float

— swim·mer noun

Examples of SWIM

1. He's teaching the children to swim.
2. She swam across the pool.
3. He swam the English Channel.
4. The racers must swim the backstroke.
5. We watched the fish swimming in the river.
6. Ducks swam in the pond.
7. I felt weak and my head was swimming.
8. The room swam before my eyes.

Origin of SWIM

Middle English swimmen, from Old English swimman; akin to Old High German swimman to swim

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SWIM

Synonyms: reel, spin, turn, whirl

Antonyms: settle, sink

Related Words: swirl

Near Antonyms: calm, collect; settle, steady

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with SWIM

bream, brim, dim, glim, grim, Grimm, gym, him, hymn, limb, limn, mim, nim, prim, rim, scrim, shim, skim, slim, Tim, trim, vim, whim