swam

Definition of swamnext
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 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
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
  • Global crude prices hovered between $60 and $70 for most of 2025.
    Camila Domonoske, NPR, 7 May 2026
  • Overcast skies hovered over Atlanta during the midafternoon as the metro area braced for severe weather.
    Vanessa McCray, AJC.com, 6 May 2026
Verb
  • By then, 34 other passengers had departed the vessel, which first sailed from the South American country of Argentina in March, with stops in the Antarctic and other locations before heading to waters off Cape Verde near the coast of West Africa.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 12 May 2026
  • The ship then sailed for the port of Praia in Cape Verde, but was denied permission to dock.
    Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Verb
  • Arches of black and yellow balloons floated over tables set with meals in plastic boxes.
    Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
  • While past presidents and lawmakers have occasionally floated gas tax holidays, a suspension of the tax has never passed in Congress.
    Joey Garrison, USA Today, 11 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

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Cite this Entry

“Swam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swam. Accessed 13 May. 2026.

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