swish

1 of 4

verb

ˈswish 

swished; swishing; swishes

intransitive verb

: to move, pass, swing, or whirl with the sound of a swish

transitive verb

1

: to move, cut, or strike with a swish

the horse swished its tail

2

: to make (a basketball shot) so that the ball falls through the rim without touching it

swished a 3-point jumper

swisher noun

swishingly

ˈswi-shiŋ-lē 

adverb

swish

2 of 4

noun (1)

plural swishes

1

a

: a prolonged hissing sound (as of a whip cutting the air)

b

: a light sweeping or brushing sound

2

: a swishing movement

3

slang, usually disparaging + offensive : an effeminate gay man

swish

3 of 4

adjective

: smart, fashionable

swisher

4 of 4

noun (2)

swish·​er

-shə(r)

plural -s

: one that swishes : flogger

Synonyms of swish

Verb

• hiss

Noun (1)

• whistle
• zip
• fizz

Adjective

• stylish
• fashionable
• happening
• chic

Examples of swish in a Sentence

Verb

He watched as the windshield wipers swished back and forth.

The horse's tail swished back and forth.

The horse swished its tail back and forth.

Noun (1)

the steady swish of the windshield wipers

the mare brushed away the flies with a sweeping swish of her tail

Adjective

a trendy boutique filled with swish accessories for the urban fashionista

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of soap, such as gentle laundry detergentand swish it gently to combine. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Nov. 2026

Raspberries, blueberries, herbs and soft tomatoes can be damaged by hard scrubbing, so swish them with your fingers under cool water instead. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2026

Noun

Every bounce of the ball, swish of the net, ref’s whistle and directive from the sideline reverberated through the building. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 2 Nov. 2026

This time, the ball found its ideal arc and dropped through the net with a crisp swish. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 2026

Adjective

Suite guests unlock access to Summersalt, the resort’s swish, adults-only beach club with Burj-front sunbeds, while a refined Club Lounge offers a quiet spot for breakfasts, afternoon tea, and early-evening sundowners. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

The more the lyrics swish around, the more their implications start to weigh. — Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

imitative

Adjective

origin unknown

First Known Use

Verb

1756, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (1)

1820, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1766, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for swish

• dish
• lish
• wish
• bluefish
• catfish
• codfish
• crawfish
• dogfish
• finfish
• flatfish
• goldfish
• groundfish

Kids Definition

swish

1 of 2 verb

ˈswish 

: to make, move, or strike with a soft rubbing, hissing, or splashing sound

swish

2 of 2 noun

1

: a hissing sound (as of a whip cutting the air) or a sound of soft surfaces rubbing against each other

2

: a swishing movement

swishy

-ē

adjective