swim

1 of 3

verb

ˈswim 

swam ˈswam  ; swum 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

swim

2 of 3

noun

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

swim

3 of 3

adjective

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

Synonyms of swim

Verb

• spin

Noun

• trance
• daze
• faint
• syncope

Examples of swim in a Sentence

Verb

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.

Noun

the merest glimpse of blood sends him into a swim

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

But since the 2024 Olympics, images of athletes competing — and now residents swimming — in the river have become almost familiar. — ABC News, 8 Aug. 2026

Water starts rapidly flooding the house, with a creature swimming through, clearly adept at moving underwater as had been predicted. — William Earl, Variety, 8 Aug. 2026

Noun

Residents sun on the sand after a swim in the famed crystalline waters, enjoy a picnic and relax under the cool shade of the towering Jefferson Pines and Douglas Firs. — Andrew Graham, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Behind the bar, the object of her fascination stood in a pair of duck boots, maroon swim trunks, and yesterday’s Fair Isle pullover taut against his tummy. — Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026

Adjective

Just outside the archaeological site, a handful of barefoot teenage boys in swim shorts were kicking a soccer ball around on the compact sand by the edge of a shallow cove, the hilltop town of Sperlonga in the distance. — Laura Itzkowitz, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Aug. 2026

With close supervision, a safe way out and a thorough post-swim rinse, many dogs can enjoy the pool without getting in over their heads. — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 29 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

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

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

1599, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1924, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing swim

• go/swim with/against the tide
• in/into the swim (of things)
• sink or swim
• swim bladder
• swim fin
• swim meet

Rhymes for swim

• brim
• clim
• dim
• grim
• gym
• him
• hymn
• im
• limb
• mim
• prim
• rim

Kids Definition

swim

1 of 2 verb

ˈswim 

swam ˈswam  ; swum ˈswəm  ; swimming

1

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

2

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

3

: to feel dizzy

my head swam in the stuffy room

4

: to cross by swimming

swim a stream

swimmer noun

swim

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act or period of swimming

2

: the main current of activity

in the swim of things