swallows 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of swallow

swallows

2 of 2

noun

plural of swallow
as in gulps
the portion of a serving of a beverage that is swallowed at one time drank the cool refreshing water in two swallows and held out her cup for more

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of swallows
Verb
Social Security swallows nearly a quarter of the federal budget and is less than a decade away from insolvency. — Andrew G. Biggs, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026 If your dog swallows these fibers, it can get caught up in the digestive tract like hair in plumbing and create a blockage. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 Yancy falls to the ground, and the hallway effectively swallows him up, leaving him heartbroken and alone. — Barry Levitt, Time, 23 July 2026 There also tends to be an excess of fabric to accommodate differing torso lengths, which swallows my 5-foot-2 frame. — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 21 July 2026 The film’s goldfish-eating scene, in which Donnie swallows a broker’s pet to punish him for slacking off, really happened. — Jp Mangalindan, Entertainment Weekly, 14 July 2026 Infant botulism begins when a child swallows food containing bacterial spores, which produce toxins in the intestines. — Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 8 July 2026 Newspapers report it all, and the American citizenry swallows it whole. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 29 June 2026 In an ideal world, Blueger lines up as the middleman of an energetic fourth line that swallows up defensive-zone draws. — Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 23 June 2026
Noun
In the winter, the swallows can be found between the southern United States and Central America. — Neal Riley, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026 Like swallows returning home, more than 100,000 Penn State faithful flock to the fields surrounding Beaver Stadium six times a fall. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026 The swallows — which arrive from across New England and the Canadian Maritimes — are on a journey to the Gulf of Mexico. — Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2026 Four-year-old Juni Wahab was entranced by the sight of the swallows and cormorants swooping low overhead and the rushing twists of water. — Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026 Birds such as swifts, swallows, sparrows, and starlings, which make their nests in the eaves of roofs, have been particularly affected by abnormally high temperatures, said Romaine de Jaegere, founder of the Center for the Rehabilitation of Animals Living in the Wild refuge in Temploux, in Belgium. — Makini Brice, USA Today, 23 June 2026 Sparrows, starlings, bluebirds, swallows, ravens, pigeons, and crows can become nuisance birds, causing damage and health risks. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 13 June 2026 Alfalfa grown for cattle feed swallows 26% of all water consumed in the basin, more than every city in the region combined. — The Week Us, TheWeek, 8 June 2026 Terminus always made sure their arrival came just after nightfall when the streetlights were lit and families were sitting back with full bellies bumping against their dinner tables, houses quiet; all conversation having already been spent between forkfuls of food and hearty swallows of drink. — Literary Hub, 20 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swallows
Verb
  • The crowd sips matcha dragon fruit cocktails and stares, aghast.
    — Dina Cheney, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2026
  • California returns to its original brand collaboration with BLQK coffee, and the team sips espresso during timeouts.
    — Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Verb
  • Opponents argue the proposal weakens environmental protections, stifles community input and could fast-track projects like data centers and freeways.
    — Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
  • In time, this silence erodes trust, stifles creativity and turns minor problems into serious issues.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • With her appointment of a special prosecutor, Hochul believes Van Houten is not up to the task.
    — David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Jones said the team believes its drilling results raise questions about some previous explanations of the site as a natural rock formation.
    — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • But in 2019, the group started to tighten the energy efficiency standard in gulps.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Iraqis breathed a few gulps of freedom before secular warfare between Sunni and Shia militias began tearing the country apart.
    — Nolan Finley, Twin Cities, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Some students from low-income families avoid taking free meals out of shame; if everyone eats for free, proponents say, that stigma goes away.
    — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Savouring each mouthful, my father eats slowly, head tuned to the flavours in his mouth.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Over time, this reduction in egg production suppresses mosquito populations.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Moreover, its ultra-low infrared emissivity suppresses thermal radiation, hiding objects from heat-seeking cameras.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Underneath, these wide-leg jeans are timeless, comfortable, and easy to walk in—and with a satin blouse like this one from Aritizia, you’ll be set for wherever your stroll takes you.
    — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The clip takes fans through the making of the music video from start to finish, with Swift breaking down her creative process, directing scenes and sharing funny moments with the video’s stars, Dakota Johnson and Colin Farrell.
    — Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Sandy and Leah have drinks with the crew before heading back to the boat, where Sandy jokingly pretends to cook the dinner that Joy left for them.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Oct. 2026
  • For drinks, The Presidential Lounge is a hip, speakeasy-style lobby bar.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Swallows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swallows. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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