swam

past tense of swim
1
as in spun
to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around his head was swimming after he was given so much information on his first day at the new job

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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

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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 The archives stated that after the attack, more than 1,000 POWs ended up in the water as the ship sank, and many of them swam toward land, where Japanese military recaptured a lot. Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 10 Oct. 2025 Carter swam inside behind Ojomo and had a clear path to Mayfield. Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025 Mickey piloted the boat to the cliffs, dropped anchor, and the four of them swam to shore. David Wright Faladé, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025 The screen swam with shapes and lines. Sarah Mlynowski, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2025 After copulating, the two males lay immobile on the seafloor as the female swam away. Jack Guy, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2025 Then the other shark moved in, did his business, went motionless, and the female shark swam away. Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025 The Herald also found a pile of wet clothes, two children’s backpacks and food at the end of a street in Tavernier where the ocean meets the shore, suggesting the group swam to land and changed into dry clothing. Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 6 Sep. 2025 Nix swam Denver back to the playoffs for the first time since Peyton Manning retired. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swam
Verb
  • The material is washed, processed locally into balls, flakes and/or pellets that meet European industrial standards, and then spun into a high-grade thread, without blending with virgin plastic or chemical additives.
    Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Fabrics are shredded, cleaned, and spun into new yarn.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Hornets are attempting to alter the narrative that’s hovered over the franchise for the better part of the past two decades and are fixated on doing it sooner than later.
    Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 14 Oct. 2025
  • Bitcoin hovered around $115,000 on Monday, stabilizing after its drop below $105,000 on Friday but so far failing to recoup all of its losses.
    John Towfighi, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Spanish crew of 86 sailed for 35 days.
    The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 13 Oct. 2025
  • The receiver sprinted up the sideline more than 20 yards before turning inside, his defender trailing as the ball sailed toward the middle of the field.
    Nicki Jhabvala, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Some opponents to the BlackRock acquisition have floated the idea of city government buying AES to keep the public utility out of the hands of private equity.
    Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 14 Oct. 2025
  • The Palestinians being floated to join efforts to administer Gaza seem selected primarily for their palatability to foreign governments.
    Mohammed R. Mhawish, New Yorker, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • According to a preliminary investigation, a passenger vehicle was traveling northbound in the third lane when, for an unknown reason, the driver drifted across the lanes.
    Caroline Neal, Louisville Courier Journal, 14 Oct. 2025
  • He was also injured in a car crash, had run-ins with the law, and drifted in and out of rehab.
    Andrew R. Chow, Time, 14 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Swam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swam. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.

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