Illustration of swan
- swan 1
plural swans
1
plural also swan
: any of various large heavy-bodied long-necked mostly pure white aquatic birds (family Anatidae, especially genus Cygnus) that have webbed feet and are related to but larger than the geese
2
: one that resembles or is likened to a swan
3
Swan
: the constellation Cygnus
Examples of swan in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mikayla Price, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Björk, Marjan Pejoski, 2001 Does the swan belong on the list of best Academy Awards dresses of all time?
—Esther Zuckerman, Vanity Fair, 3 Mar. 2026
Neda Ulaby, NPR, 27 Sep. 2025
The music video, in which Tay swans around a Malibu mansion in a pastel two-piece, was more controversial.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for swan
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Noun
Myra Zenke Mute swans are not native to America, and were first introduced to Illinois in 1971 as decorative birds for lakes, according to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
—Mikayla Price, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2026
Björk, Marjan Pejoski, 2001 Does the swan belong on the list of best Academy Awards dresses of all time?
—Esther Zuckerman, Vanity Fair, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
They're led by a glamorous male mad scientist, Dr. Frank-N-Furter, who swans about in a glittering corset and heels.
—Neda Ulaby, NPR, 27 Sep. 2025
The music video, in which Tay swans around a Malibu mansion in a pastel two-piece, was more controversial.
—Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 13 Nov. 2023
See All Example Sentences for swan
Cite this Entry
“Swan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swan. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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