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 Some people even swam across the mile-wide river, or walked across its ice in winter, believing that freedom and opportunity awaited them on the other side. Equal Justice Initiative, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025 Stewart eventually swam to shore and walked to the Deer Park Life Saving Station. Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 4 Nov. 2025 In a stream of southern China filled with plant debris, a pinkish river creature with wrinkly lips swam through the murk, perhaps searching for a meal or a mate. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2025 The incident comes days after a family in Massachusetts similarly swam ashore to a nearby island off the coast of Cape Cod. Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025 Without breaking stride, Roach swam over Schlottman, squeezed past Van Roten, and stuffed Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo. Luca Evans, Denver Post, 23 Oct. 2025 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swam
Verb
  • Entertainers tend to bend memory to their advantage; Margolick, contemptuous of myth, straightens the record, especially the legends spun by Mel Brooks, Caesar’s protégé.
    David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Shaw spun away and angled a low far-post shot past Lorena, tilting the game toward the visiting team.
    Tamerra Griffin, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Housing costs have skyrocketed in the years following the outbreak of the pandemic, and mortgage rates have hovered between 6 percent and 7 percent since 2022, chipping away at Americans’ purchasing power.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Meanwhile, bitcoin slid almost 3% and hovered around $100,650 in a sign of risk-off sentiment.
    John Towfighi, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • The Osumi Strait transit also indicates that the Kaiyangxing sailed around three of Japan's four main islands—Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu—excluding Hokkaido.
    Ryan Chan, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • He was challenged by former Council Member Lisa Sanchez and Lynn Bradescu, but Hallyburton sailed to victory, garnering more than 70% of the vote.
    Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • This isn't the first time a tariff revenue check to the American people has been floated.
    Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Trump has frequently floated the idea of tariff rebate checks.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Virginia was once a swing state but has drifted toward Democrats over the past few decades.
    Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
  • But life has a way of lulling you into complacency, and over time my eyes drifted less frequently to the sky.
    Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Swam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swam. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.

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