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
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 Dark wood furniture swallows light and takes up floor space in hallways. Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 7 June 2026 Infection can happen when someone accidentally swallows contaminated water from pools, splashpads, lakes, or rivers. Justin Laube, EverydayHealth.com, 1 June 2026
Noun
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 Cliff swallows traditionally built their nests on vertical cliff faces. Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 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
  • The altitude also plays into the Broncos’ advantage as their defense stifles De’Von Achane and company.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Industry consensus has long held that rigorous ESG compliance naturally stifles speed-to-market.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 12 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Max Fondren, president of the ICEBreakers student group, said the organization believes the university's partnership with immigration authorities could negatively affect students.
    Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Difficult People began during the Obama era, a context Klausner believes matters when people call the series prophetic.
    Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 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
  • Over the Top serves up favorite street eats every day except for Monday.
    Leondra Head, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Branch has similarities to Xavier Worthy, and that gives him the chance to be another WR4 with weekly boom upside … assuming Tagovailoa eats some spinach for that arm or Michael Penix returns under center.
    Jake Ciely, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • When your fat cells are adequately stocked with fat, leptin levels are high, and your brain suppresses appetite.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Aug. 2026
  • Warming suppresses upwelling — which normally allows colder, deeper and nutrient-rich ocean water to rise closer to the surface.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • However, what’s entirely unexpected is the sparrow continuing to fly around even when Hal takes his ring back.
    Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 24 Aug. 2026
  • When the job takes her to an eastern Colorado cattle ranch, Jane notices that the family’s young daughter has precocious breast development as a result of the hormones the operation uses.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Zebra striping is the practice of alternating alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks throughout a night out, creating a pattern that mirrors the black and white stripes on a zebra.
    Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 24 Aug. 2026
  • But a key question has been how profoundly the bans would affect public health, with some economists arguing that people would just use other funds to buy Coke and other sugary drinks instead.
    Sarah Todd, STAT, 24 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Swallows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swallows. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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