swamp

1 of 2

noun

ˈswämp How to pronounce swamp (audio)
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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Best rut stand #4: Hogback ridge flanked by crops and CRP, swamp or similar thick cover on the other side. Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024 The nightmarish sci-fi thriller features Portman as part of a science group that investigates a Florida swamp where the fauna has been otherworldly transformed. Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
Verb
That trio swamped the Bedard-Dickinson-Anderson line to the tune of a 15-5 edge in attempts, a 7-3 edge in scoring chances and a 3-0 edge in high-danger chances. Mark Lazerus, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024 That’s because the 0.4% jobs boost from protectionism was swamped by job losses associated with rising input costs and retaliatory tariffs. Laurent Belsie, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for swamp 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of swamp was in 1624

Dictionary Entries Near swamp

Cite this Entry

“Swamp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swamp. Accessed 8 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

swamp

1 of 2 noun
ˈswämp How to pronounce swamp (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on swamp

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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