swill

1 of 2

verb

ˈswil 

swilled; swilling; swills

transitive verb

1

: wash, drench

2

: to drink great drafts of : guzzle

swill beer

3

: to feed (an animal, such as a pig) with swill

intransitive verb

1

: to drink or eat freely, greedily, or to excess

2

: swash

swiller noun

swill

2 of 2

noun

1

: something suggestive of slop or garbage : refuse

2

a

: a semiliquid food for animals (such as swine) composed of edible refuse mixed with water or skimmed or sour milk

b

: garbage

Synonyms of swill

Verb

• gorge
• feast

Noun

• sip
• drink
• gulp

Examples of swill in a Sentence

Verb

She watched the water swill around in the bucket.

He swilled the water around in the pot.

He swilled the floor with buckets of water.

Noun

took his daily swill of the foul-tasting medicine

I don't know what's in this swill, but I know that I'm not eating it.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

There’s the youngest, most freewheeling son’s habit of swilling cold coffee while watching The Gong Show. — Literary Hub, 20 May 2026

Spirit swilling was down 5% in California, compared with a 4% drop nationwide. — Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 15 May 2026

Noun

The margaritas here, made with top-shelf tequilas and infusions of unique fruits and spices, are much better than the frozen swill served in the general Mexico Pavilion. — Laura Ratliff, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 July 2026

Much has been written about the fabled three-martini swill fests of yore, but too little has been made of the eating. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English swilen, from Old English swillan

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for swill

• bill
• brill
• chill
• drill
• fil
• fill
• frill
• gill
• grill
• grille
• jill
• kill

Kids Definition

swill

1 of 2 verb

ˈswil 

1

: drench

2

: to drink or eat greedily

3

: to feed (as a pig) with swill

swiller noun

swill

2 of 2 noun

1

: food for animals (as pigs) made from scraps of food mixed with water or skimmed or sour milk

2

: garbage, refuse

3

: swig entry 1