: 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
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
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Verb
According to Egyptian mythology, Nut swallows the sun god Ra each night and gives birth to him each morning, symbolizing the solar cycle.—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 1 May 2025 Instead, the officials swallowed their whistles, and Detroit fell 3-1 in the series.—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 30 Apr. 2025
Noun
But Counsell was not surprised that some had already jumped on him over the lineup, like swallows to Capistrano.—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2025 Mission visitors celebrated the return of the swallows, as well as St. Joseph’s Day, on Wednesday, March 19, with mariachi music, indigenous demonstrations and performances and the ringing of the historic mission bells.—Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for swallow
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
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