swallow

1 of 3

verb

swal·​low ˈswä-(ˌ)lō 

swallowed; swallowing; swallows

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 (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

swallowable

ˈswä-lō-ə-bəl 

adjective

swallower

ˈswä-lə-wər 

noun

swallow

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

: the passage connecting the mouth to the stomach

2

: a capacity for swallowing

3

a

: an act of swallowing

b

: an amount that can be swallowed at one time

swallow

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: any of numerous small widely distributed oscine birds (family Hirundinidae, the swallow family) that have a short bill, long pointed wings, and often a deeply forked tail and that feed on insects caught on the wing

2

: any of several birds that superficially resemble swallows

Illustration of swallow

• swallow 1

Synonyms of swallow

Verb

• sip
• chew
• drink
• eat
• ingest

Noun (1)

• sip
• gulp
• drink

Examples of swallow in a Sentence

Verb

He swallowed the grape whole.

Chew your food well before you swallow.

The boss said, “Come in.” I swallowed hard and walked in.

Her story is pretty hard to swallow.

I can usually take criticism, but this is more than I can swallow.

Noun (1)

drank the cool refreshing water in two swallows and held out her cup for more

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

After a two-hour tale of comical deception, betrayal, emotional cruelty, insensitivity and obliviousness, the audience is expected to swallow a message of caring and community. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 27 Feb. 2026

The higher wholesale prices very well could translate to more expensive goods and services for consumers, Reid said; however, the alternative isn’t easy to swallow either. —Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 27 Feb. 2026

Noun

In October, at the age of 63, Jean was diagnosed with ALS, a debilitating disease that will eventually leave her unable to speak, swallow, or breathe on her own. —Christine Mai-Duc, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026

This slowly strips a person’s ability to walk, talk, eat, dress, write, speak, swallow and, eventually, breathe. —Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

Noun (2)

Middle English swalowe, from Old English swealwe; akin to Old High German swalawa swallow

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

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

Phrases Containing swallow

• barn swallow
• cliff swallow
• tree swallow

Rhymes for swallow

• follow
• hollow
• malo
• wallow
• apollo
• criollo

Kids Definition

swallow

1 of 3 noun

swal·​low ˈswäl-ō 

1

: any of a family of small birds that have long pointed wings and usually a deeply forked tail and that feed on insects caught while in flight

2

: any of several birds that look like true swallows

swallow

2 of 3 verb

1

a

: to take into the stomach through the mouth and throat

b

: to perform the actions used in swallowing something

clear your throat and swallow before answering

2

: to take in as if by swallowing : engulf

3

: to accept or believe without question, protest, or anger

a hard story to swallow

4

: to keep from expressing or showing : repress

swallowed my anger

swallower

ˈswäl-ə-wər 

noun

swallow

3 of 3 noun

1

: an act of swallowing

2

: an amount that can be swallowed at one time

Etymology

Noun

Old English swealwe "the swallow"

Verb

Old English swelgan "to swallow"

Medical Definition

swallow

1 of 2 transitive verb

swal·​low ˈswäl-(ˌ)ō 

: to take through the mouth and esophagus into the stomach

intransitive verb

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

swallow

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act of swallowing

2

: an amount that can be swallowed at one time