swim

verb \ ˈswim \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Examples: swim in a Sentence

Definition of swim

swam play \ˈswam\; swum play \ˈswəm\; swimming

intransitive verb

1 a : to propel oneself in water by natural means (such as movements of the limbs, fins, or tail)

b : to play in the water (as at a beach or swimming pool)

2 : to move with a motion like that of swimming : glide

a cloud swam slowly across the moon

3 a : to float on a liquid : not sink

b : to surmount difficulties : not go under

sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish
—Daniel Webster

4 : to become immersed in or flooded with or as if with a liquid

potatoes swimming in gravy

5 : to have a floating or reeling appearance or sensation

transitive verb

1 a : to cross by propelling oneself through water

swim a stream

b : to execute in swimming

2 : to cause to swim or float

—

swimmer

noun

See swim defined for English-language learners

See swim defined for kids

Examples of swim in a Sentence

He's teaching the children to swim.
She swam across the pool.
He swam the English Channel.
The racers must swim the backstroke.
We watched the fish swimming in the river.
Ducks swam in the pond.
I felt weak and my head was swimming.
The room swam before my eyes.

Recent Examples of swim from the Web

Yurk worked the 14-inch bass to the side of the boat, flicked the hook out of its mouth and watched it swim off.

— paul a. smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Smith: Retro outing proves fishing fun - and gear - is timeless," 14 July 2018
Tourist Benji Xie said people were swimming at the base of waterfalls when the flash flooding struck.

— felicia fonseca and alina hartounian, chicagotribune.com, "Flash flood sends tourists to high ground near Grand Canyon," 13 July 2018
The man, who was about 50-years-old, was swimming off Circuit Avenue and Bassetts Island, said Bourne Deputy Fire Chief Joe Carrara.

— adam sennott, BostonGlobe.com, "Man dies after being pulled from water in Bourne," 13 July 2018
Special needs swimming Special needs night, a quiet time after regular operating hours, is planned for 6:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday, July 15, at the Centennial Beach, 500 Jackson Ave.

— michelle mullins, Naperville Sun, "This Week in Naperville," 13 July 2018
Yet their rivals, the debt-paying Lannisters, could be swimming in gold come Emmys night.

— refinery29.com, "The 2018 Emmys Love The Lannisters More Than The Starks," 12 July 2018
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries agency said the whale was the same one that was seen swimming in Raritan Bay on July 4.

— joseph a. gambardello, Philly.com, "Rescue team saves entangled humpback whale off New Jersey coast," 12 July 2018
Initially started by designer Rosa Rendl as a college design project, the brand relaunched in May to emphasize its new approach to swim as a neutral, genderless category.

— indya brown, The Cut, "The Anti-Skimpy Swimsuit Brand to Know," 12 July 2018
Larry Hazlewood befriended a big one with orange dorsal spikes who basked in his backyard and swam in his canal.

— linda robertson, miamiherald, "South Florida is suffering from an iguana infestation. A solution? Think barbecue.," 11 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'swim.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of swim

Middle English swimmen, from Old English swimman; akin to Old High German swimman to swim

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

swim Synonyms

swim

noun

Definition of swim

1 : a smooth gliding motion

2 : an act or period of swimming

3 : a temporary dizziness or unconsciousness

4 a : an area frequented by fish

b : the main current of activity

in the swim

See swim defined for English-language learners

Examples of swim in a Sentence

the merest glimpse of blood sends him into a swim

Recent Examples of swim from the Web

Jaevon and about 20 other kids had hopped the pool’s locked fence Tuesday night after the pool had closed for a swim in the midst of a heat wave.

— ruth bruno, courant.com, "200 Gather To Mourn Teen Who Drowned In Hartford Pool Last Week," 9 July 2018
Sebby-Strempel is a racist pig who, according to WCIV, launched an unprovoked physical and verbal attack against a teenage black boy who came to the Reminisce neighborhood pool with his friends for a swim on Sunday.

— monique judge, The Root, "Crazy, Racist White Woman Assaults Black Teens and Insults Them With Racial Slurs at a Public Swimming Pool," 26 June 2018
The El Paraiso station is blocks from El Guaire, a filthy river carrying sewer water that the late President Hugo Chavez pledged to clean enough for a swim back in 2005.

— patricia laya, Bloomberg.com, "The Army Took Over the Spigots, Forcing Thirsty Venezuelans to Pay," 25 June 2018
Ian’s father Patrick told Fox 17 that when Luka slipped into the exhibit pool for a swim, Ian and several other kids got excited and started jumping up and down.

— meghan overdeep, Southern Living, "Watch This Adorable Little Boy and Bear Jump in Unison at Nashville Zoo," 14 June 2018
To fully relax, take a hike, visit the meditation labyrinth, or go for a swim in the lake.

— travel wisconsin, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Solo trips to recharge in Wisconsin," 10 June 2018
Most come for a swim or a sunrise surf, but there’s enough golden sand for barefoot walks at low tide, too.

— the editors, Outside Online, "North America's 16 Best, Most Overlooked Beaches," 1 June 2018
Plan to cut classes all day tomorrow and go out for a swim.

— phoebe wall howard, Detroit Free Press, "Service Diary of a Corpsman: Roy L. Wall, LST 509," 28 May 2018
The castle staff tell the BBC that the tiny quackers follow Fred everywhere, including into the moat for a swim.

— saryn chorney, PEOPLE.com, "Senior Dog Becomes Single Dad to Brood of Nine Orphaned Baby Ducks — and the Photos Are Precious," 22 May 2018

First Known Use of swim

1599

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

swim Synonyms

Synonyms

blackout, faint, insensibility, knockout, swoon, syncope;

Related Words

daze, stupor, trance;

drowsiness, narcosis, sleep, somnolence;

swim

adjective

Definition of swim

: of, relating to, or used in or for swimming

Recent Examples of swim from the Web

Prizes include bike helmets, summer fun pails, a soccer ball, swim lesson sessions, New Britain Bees tickets and more.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The Wethersfield Edition," 12 June 2018
And almost all public pools offer swim lessons throughout the season.

— helena oliviero, ajc, "Your guide to some of metro Atlanta’s best public pools," 25 May 2018
Taking mother-daughter dressing to new heights, Ashley and her mom Linda Graham appear alongside one another wearing bikinis, one-pieces, and cover-ups from the swim brand's latest limited-edition capsule with Graham.

— lauren alexis fisher, Harper's BAZAAR, "Ashley Graham and Her Mom Star in New Swimsuits For All Campaign," 5 Feb. 2018
Work on the extensive overhaul of the swim center began in January.

— steve dreyer, Pomerado News, "Poway Swim Center won't open until after Labor Day," 27 June 2018
From swim team, softball, basketball, running, tennis, and soccer to weightlifting, bicycling, water aerobics, yoga, and dance.

— jes baker, SELF, "Nope, I’m Not Trying to Lose Weight," 26 June 2018
Most pools will be checked at least once or twice each swim season.

— anna douglas and rachel jones, charlotteobserver, "Before you jump in, do you know how clean your Charlotte-area pool is?," 5 June 2018
This month, swim season will get underway as pools open in many Houston area communities.

— Houston Chronicle, "Elyson House and Elyson Café add new amenities and offerings for summer," 13 May 2018
Nicholas Dworet, 17, was looking forward to starting college and joining the swim team at the University of Indianapolis this fall.

— carrie blackmore smith, Cincinnati.com, "'We are doing holes in these rifles before the rifles make holes in us'," 22 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of swim

1924

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

SWIM Defined for English Language Learners

swim

verb

Definition of swim for English Language Learners

: to move through water by moving your arms and legs
: to move through or across (an area of water) by swimming
: to swim by using (a specified method)

swim

noun

Definition of swim for English Language Learners

: an act or period of swimming

SWIM Defined for Kids

swim

verb \ ˈswim \

Definition of swim for Students

swam \ˈswam\; swum \ˈswəm\; swimming

1 : to move through or in water by moving arms, legs, fins, or tail

2 : to cross by swimming

He swam the river.

3 : to float on or in or be covered with or as if with a liquid

The corn was swimming in butter.

4 : to be dizzy : move or seem to move in a dizzying way

My head swam in the hot room.

—

swimmer

noun

swim

noun

Definition of swim for Students

: an act or period of swimming

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swim

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swim

Definition of swim

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swim Synonyms

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swim

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swim

Definition of swim for English Language Learners

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