swamp

1 of 2

noun

ˈswämp 

ˈswȯmp

1

: a wetland often partially or intermittently covered with water

especially : one dominated by woody vegetation

2

: a tract of swamp

3

: a difficult or troublesome situation or subject

swamp adjective

swamp

2 of 2

verb

swamped; swamping; swamps

transitive verb

1

a

: to fill with or as if with water : inundate, submerge

b

: to overwhelm numerically or by an excess of something : flood

swamped with work

2

: to open by removing underbrush and debris

intransitive verb

: to become submerged

Synonyms of swamp

Noun

• marsh
• wetland

Verb

• flood
• engulf
• overwhelm
• drown

Examples of swamp in a Sentence

Noun

Alligators live in the lowland swamps.

be careful in the swamp, because alligators sometimes lurk there

Verb

The sea level rose and swamped the coastal villages.

The boat sank after it was swamped by waves.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There must be someone in that backbiting swamp that is Hollywood who isn’t a Brooks fan, but such a person is not to be found here. —Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026

The crab-eating frog (Fejervarya cancrivora) lives in mangroves, coastal swamps and estuaries across Southeast Asia. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026

Verb

Nonetheless, many North Texans won’t have to run out to the store during the winter storm; grocers have been swamped with people this week who have cleared out the meat, eggs, bread and other storm staples. —Star-Telegram Staff, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Jan. 2026

Bigger waves can reach further inland, swamping more homes and businesses. —Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

perhaps alteration of Middle English sompe, from Middle Dutch somp morass; akin to Middle High German sumpf marsh, Greek somphos spongy

First Known Use

Noun

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1784, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing swamp

• swamp buggy

Rhymes for swamp

• comp
• pomp
• pompe
• romp
• stomp

Kids Definition

swamp

1 of 2 noun

ˈswämp 

ˈswȯmp

: wet spongy land often partly covered with water

swamp

2 of 2 verb

1

: to fill or become filled with or as if with water

2

: overwhelm sense 2

was swamped with work