1
2
as in hovered
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air
there appeared to be an oily film swimming on the water
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 swam
Crisp swam up to over a dozen people in the wave pool that day and placed his hands on their buttocks, according to Ada County Deputy Prosecutor Brittany Ford, who was referring to surveillance footage reviewed by law enforcement.
—
Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 7 May 2026
Jerry swam strongly for three or four minutes, then rolled over on his back and floated.
—Jim Hoagland, Outdoor Life, 30 Apr. 2026
Images taken a day earlier showed divers alongside Timmy as the humpback whale swam into the barge.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
My grandfather swam there, was an all-American swimmer.
—Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
The Marlins swam away with a 3-2 victory on Wednesday afternoon to take two of three in the series.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 29 Apr. 2026
At the time of his death, his friend, Strogoff Prevot, told WPTV that Roselin had fallen behind when their group swam to a sandbar.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Although San Francisco Bay is cold, the fitness icon Jack La Lanne once swam to the island pulling a rowboat, and several children also made the swim.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
At the event, children could make paper at an activity table and experience animals inside the museum, including Augie, a red-eared slider turtle, who swam to the surface briefly when visitors peered into the pool.
—Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 7 May 2026
Jerry swam strongly for three or four minutes, then rolled over on his back and floated.
—Jim Hoagland, Outdoor Life, 30 Apr. 2026
Images taken a day earlier showed divers alongside Timmy as the humpback whale swam into the barge.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
My grandfather swam there, was an all-American swimmer.
—Miami Herald, 29 Apr. 2026
The Marlins swam away with a 3-2 victory on Wednesday afternoon to take two of three in the series.
—Doug Padilla, Oc Register, 29 Apr. 2026
At the time of his death, his friend, Strogoff Prevot, told WPTV that Roselin had fallen behind when their group swam to a sandbar.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Although San Francisco Bay is cold, the fitness icon Jack La Lanne once swam to the island pulling a rowboat, and several children also made the swim.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Apr. 2026
At the event, children could make paper at an activity table and experience animals inside the museum, including Augie, a red-eared slider turtle, who swam to the surface briefly when visitors peered into the pool.
—Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swam
Verb
-
Cheers erupted from the crowd as participants spun and laughed, fully embracing the spirit of the decade.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
The rotors on the SkyFall helicopters will also be larger than those on Ingenuity, which spun its blades at 2,700 rpm, already 10 times faster than passenger helicopters on Earth.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
If everyone succeeded, the box got shorter for the next round, while the other participants hovered nearby to catch anyone who wobbled.—
Lily Hautau,
CNN Money,
3 May 2026
-
On Friday, West Texas Intermediate hovered around $102 and Brent crude topped $108, though prices for physical delivery are higher.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
While other artists of ambition sailed for Europe, Cole’s protégé was perfectly satisfied sketching along the Hudson.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
That, combined with his understandable nervousness, caused him to short-arm his first fastball, which sailed at Cey’s head, sending him sprawling into the dirt.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Giuliani floated the idea of changing the law to run for a third term or serving an extra three months to help with a post-9/11 recovery.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
-
Bondholders weren't on board and floated a counter proposal.—
Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
The staircase to the second floor had a stair lift, and into my head drifted an image of an elderly widow, slowly ascending to her bedroom after eating alone, her kitchen overflowing with porcelain and crystal reminders of dinner parties long ago.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 May 2026
-
Key creative decisions have drifted.—
George Heller,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Swam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swam. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
