swathe

1 of 2

noun

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswāt͟h 

variants or swath

ˈswät͟h  ˈswäth 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswȯth

1

: a band used in swathing

2

: an enveloping medium

swathe

2 of 2

verb

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswāt͟h 

swathed; swathing

transitive verb

1

: to bind, wrap, or swaddle with or as if with a bandage

2

: envelop

a mountain swathed by clouds

Synonyms of swathe

Verb

• wrap
• shroud
• envelop
• enclose
• bosom

Examples of swathe in a Sentence

Verb

The nurse swathed the wounded soldier's leg in bandages.

Her neck was swathed in jewels.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

At night in Havana, the stars are often clearly visible as most of the city is swathed in near total darkness. —Patrick Oppmann, CNN Money, 18 Feb. 2026

Elevate the Eat-In Kitchen While most of the layout was left untouched, the Voigts opted to overhaul the cooking space, trading the original dark built-ins for bright cabinetry painted Linen White (912) and swathing the ceiling in sky blue Smoke (2122-40, at 50%), both by Benjamin Moore. —Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026

Frail elderly women, swathed in headscarves and saris, worshipped while sitting on puddled pavement near corroded metal changing lockers plastered with ads for Glow & Lovely skin cream. —Norma Meyer, Oc Register, 4 Feb. 2026

A couple are done up in neutral color palettes, while one is swathed in a rosy hue and another sports a palm-print wallpaper accent wall behind the bed. —Tori Latham, Robb Report, 20 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English *swæth; akin to Old English swathian to swathe

Verb

Middle English, from Old English swathian

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

swathe

1 of 2 verb

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswāt͟h

swathed; swathing

1

: to bind, wrap, or swaddle with or as if with a bandage

2

: envelop

swathe

2 of 2 noun

ˈswät͟h 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswāt͟h

variants or swath

ˈswät͟h, 

ˈswäth, 

ˈswȯt͟h, 

ˈswȯth

: a band used in swathing