swamp

noun

\ ˈswämp

, ˈswȯmp\

Definition of swamp

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

verb

swamped; swamping; swamps

Definition of swamp (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : 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

Other Words from swamp Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about swamp

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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

In this case, the end of the world feels like the edge of a Louisiana swamp or someplace in a past that keeps reinventing itself as a future where things are going but not well, which, again, sounds familiar. — Robert Sullivan, Vogue, "Hadestown, Anaïs Mitchell’s Musical Where Work Is Hell, Makes It to the Big Time," 19 Apr. 2019 The Okefenokee swamp covers more than 400,000 acres. — Helena Oliviero, ajc, "Plan your trip: A guide to the Okefenokee swamp," 2 July 2018 The crew built the Dagobah swamp, doormen dressed as Stormtroopers and drinks were served in light-up cups that looked like lightsabers. — Hannah Kirby, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Who let the dogs out? City Lounge in Cudahy opens dog-friendly beer garden," 30 May 2018 Tough day: Barca, who is based in Folsom, was recently called to help work with local first responders to rescue a horse that got loose and ran into a swamp. — Jennifer Larino, NOLA.com, "How to become a veterinarian: Career advice from 4 New Orleans vets," 22 May 2018 According to the Howe & Howe website, the RS2-H1 drone has already conducted a 60-mile march through swamps and jungle carrying a load of more than 1,000 pounds. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Grizzly Is a Rugged Tank Robot That Could Carry a Soldier’s Stuff," 29 Mar. 2019 Besides the issues of food swamps and deserts, there’s the way that factory farming of animals contributes to dynamics that harm communities, especially communities of color. — Amy Quichiz, SELF, "10 Vegans of Color on What Being Vegan Means to Them," 6 Jan. 2019 But then a simpler explanation may be: The swamp is winning. — Holman W. Jenkins, WSJ, "Biggest Threat to 5G Is the D.C. Swamp," 8 Mar. 2019 Not to be confused with No. 5, another swamp tour, this one in Louisiana. TripAdvisor's Top 10 Experiences in America 1. — Scott Craven, azcentral, "Really? Hoover Dam is the 4th best travel experience in America?," 3 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The pace of steel exports to Europe is exceeding the rush of Chinese metal that swamped the continent in 2015 and triggered a crisis for EU producers. — Emre Peker, WSJ, "Europe Restricts Steel Imports to Counter U.S. Trade Policies," 16 Jan. 2019 Such an event would likely trigger floods that could swamp the entire village. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Giant Iceberg Threatens Entire Greenland Village," 19 July 2018 For six days straight, through the height of the storm, through the floods that swamped great swaths of Houston, Dolan worked. — Monica Rhor, Houston Chronicle, "Expectant neonatal nurse works through Harvey — until her baby comes," 23 May 2018 Forbes’s swamped bureau reporters could offer only token help to a 23-year-old greenhorn on what many regarded as a fool’s errand. — Jonathan Greenberg, Town & Country, "How to Get a Spot Among the Billionaires on the Forbes 400 List," 15 Jan. 2019 But real-life drama swamps him when a disgruntled screenwriter sends him threats, including one via mobile fax machine, which drive Mill to murder. — Matthew Kitchen, WSJ, "How to Disconnect From ‘Always On’ Work Culture," 5 Oct. 2018 The former hurricane swamped dozens of farm buildings where the animals were being raised for market. — Fox News, "The Latest: 3.4M chickens, 5,500 hogs dead in Florence flood," 19 Sep. 2018 With Trump leading the GOP ticket and no marquee race down the ballot, Democrats swamped Republicans that year, retaining a supermajority in the state legislature and carrying Orange County for the first time since the 1930s. — James Hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: Trump is driving a surge in public support for stricter gun laws since Florida," 26 Feb. 2018 More: At least 3 dead as heavy rain, floods swamp central U.S. — Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, "Forget thundersnow: There's thunder ice in the central U.S.," 22 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'swamp.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.