swap

1 of 2

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 2

noun

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

Synonyms of swap

Verb

• exchange
• trade
• substitute
• change

Noun

• 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

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

The Charlotte Hornets coach is already impressed with the demeanor and mentality of Naz Reid, the player swapped along with draft pick compensation in the trade sending LaMelo Ball and Josh Green to Minnesota. — Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 23 July 2026

As part of the trade, Atlanta also receives the right to swap second-round picks with Chicago in 2028. — Micahya Costen, AJC.com, 23 July 2026

Noun

Switch is described as a body swap rom-com centered on a Black woman and a white man who have to walk a week in each other’s lives. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 21 July 2026

If blood sugar management is a priority, choosing pulpy citrus or vegetable juice over clear apple or grape juice is a small swap with a real payoff. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 21, Charlotte Observer, 21 July 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

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