swap

1 of 3

verb

ˈswäp 

swapped; swapping

transitive verb

1

a

: to give in trade : barter

b

: exchange sense 2

2

: to take turns in telling

swap stories

intransitive verb

: to make an exchange

swapper noun

swap

2 of 3

noun (1)

: an act, instance, or process of exchanging one thing for another

swapper

3 of 3

noun (2)

swap·​per

ˈswäpə(r), 

-wȯp-

plural -s

: one that swaps

Synonyms of swap

Verb

• exchange
• trade
• substitute
• change

Noun (1)

• exchange

Examples of swap in a Sentence

Verb

He swapped his cupcake for a candy bar.

I swapped seats with my sister so she could see the stage better.

I liked her blue notebook and she liked my red one, so we swapped.

Noun (1)

They made the swap in secret.

we made a swap: I'll do the dishes tonight and she'll do them for me tomorrow

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

This distinct atmosphere is especially noticeable in the second set when Cooper swaps his trap set for a balafon and Taylor reaches into his piano to pluck the strings. — Levi Dayan, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026

Unlike Apollo-era spacesuits sized to each astronaut, the EMU was designed to be reused, so its components can be swapped out to fit astronauts of different sizes. — Robert Pearlman, ArsTechnica, 2 Nov. 2026

Noun

Ask your carrier about account PINs, port-out protection and SIM-swap security features. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026

Credit default swap price increases In the last month, the credit default swap price for CoreWeave is up 50%. — Jason Gewirtz, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English swappen to strike; from the practice of striking hands in closing a business deal

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

1625, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing swap

• swap meet
• swap stories

Rhymes for swap

• bop
• chop
• cop
• crop
• drop
• flop
• fop
• hop
• knop
• lop
• mop
• op

Kids Definition

swap

verb

ˈswäp

swapped; swapping

: to give in exchange : make an exchange : trade

swap noun

Legal Definition

swap

noun

ˈswäp

1

: an exchange of securities

2

: a derivative contract in which two parties (as corporations) agree to exchange rates especially relating to debt