swelling

noun

swell·​ing ˈswe-liŋ 

1

: something that is swollen

specifically : an abnormal bodily protuberance or localized enlargement

2

: the condition of being swollen

Synonyms

• lump
• bruise
• bump
• nodule
• node

Examples of swelling in a Sentence

There was a swelling above her eye.

The swelling around her eye should subside in a few days.

Recent Examples on the Web

Patients tend to notice subtle changes such as breast fullness, firmness, swelling, skin redness, nipple changes or discharge. —Dr. Jamie Parkerson, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2025

Symptoms usually appear three to seven days after being bitten and include fever, joint pain, headache, muscle pain, swelling or skin rash. —Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025

Wilson, 57, wrote in an Instagram post how she was readmitted to the hospital after the removal surgery due to high blood pressure and swelling. —Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2025

Olive oil may benefit people with inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune condition that causes joint pain, swelling, and inflammation. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 1 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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

Rhymes for swelling

• belling
• celling
• dwelling
• fehling
• felling
• gelling
• pelling
• quelling
• selling
• shelling
• smelling
• spelling

Kids Definition

swelling

noun

swell·​ing

ˈswel-iŋ

1

: something that is swollen

especially : a swollen part of the body

2

: the condition of being swollen

Medical Definition

swelling

noun

swell·​ing ˈswel-iŋ- 

: an abnormal bodily protuberance or localized enlargement

an inflammatory swelling