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

Between September and December 2020, Xu replaced the contents of coffee capsules, whiskey bottles and water bottles in colleagues’ offices with methylmercury chloride, an acute toxin that can be fatal if swallowed, inhaled or touched. —Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 28 May 2026

The set piece is a beautiful art deco-esque, chandelier-looking portal that rises and falls on a stand with a geometric precision Busby Berkeley would approve of, revealing and swallowing musical performers in between the movements of Johnson’s comedy. —Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 28 May 2026

Noun

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that a person needs to walk, talk, swallow and breathe, according to the ALS Assn. —Assistant Editor, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026

Terminus always made sure their arrival came just after nightfall when the streetlights were lit and families were sitting back with full bellies bumping against their dinner tables, houses quiet; all conversation having already been spent between forkfuls of food and hearty swallows of drink. —Literary Hub, 20 May 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