swim 1 of 2

verb

ˈswim How to pronounce swim (audio)
Definition of swimnext
1
as in to spin
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to sail
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

swim

2 of 2

noun

as in trance
a temporary state of unconsciousness the merest glimpse of blood sends him into a swim

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 swim
Verb
Soon the fish was near the surface and swimming around the boat. — Bob Rocchetta As Told To Al Ristori, Outdoor Life, 28 Oct. 2026 On its Arctic Summer retreat, women hike through the mountains and swim beneath the midnight sun before returning for sauna sessions and dinners around a long communal table. — Chloe Frost-Smith, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026
Noun
Many an alum fondly remembers trekking the 950-foot walkway to go for a swim on a hot, sticky July day. — Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 24 Oct. 2026 Elsa left the table for her daily swim, and, most likely, to give Darman and me time to talk alone. — Bob Woodward, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for swim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swim
  1. spin
  2. sail
  3. trance
  4. float
  5. daze
  6. hover
  7. faint
  8. ride
Verb
  • Once the researchers accounted for this requirement, the window for a split narrowed considerably, potentially remaining open only for black holes spinning close to their maximum possible rate.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Christopher Bell, who entered just five points behind Larson, crashed after spinning while entering the pits under green for his first pit stop on Lap 56.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of spin
Verb
  • Brady also took issue with a call against Detroit, suggesting Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes didn't deserve an unnecessary roughness flag for bumping running back MarShawn Lloyd after a pass sailed over Lloyd's head.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 27 Oct. 2026
  • Built by master Konjo shipwrights in South Sulawesi using dense tropical teak and ironwood, Silolona and its sister phinisi schooner, Si Datu Bua, venture where few travelers have sailed before.
    — Luke Abrahams, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of sail
Noun
  • But the factor that seems to unite everyone is a sense of repetition—no matter the style, writers will play the same songs over and over again to reach a kind of creative trance.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The anniversary lineup brings together international club names, returning Pitch favorites and a large contingent of Australian artists across house, techno, breakbeat, jungle, trance and other corners of electronic music.
    — Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of trance
Verb
  • Diversification into more reliable sectors, including tourism, has been floated as a means to bring in the hard currency needed to allow the nation more access to global markets.
    — Rebekah Evans, TheWeek, 26 Oct. 2026
  • As emerging economies and coastal hubs face growing power shortfalls, modular floating plants offer a way to secure grid capacity while keeping the door open to future hydrogen adoption.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of float
Noun
  • The video then cuts back to Allen, bloodied and walking through the parking lot in a daze.
    — Joseph Serna, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Everyone in town seemed to walk through that day in a daze; Leslie’s name was spoken in hushed whispers.
    — Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 31 July 2026
Definition of daze
Verb
  • With a police helicopter hovering overhead, police started using tear gas and a water cannon in an effort to move the protesters back.
    — Joseph Ataman, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Daytime temperatures hovered in the upper 40s to low 50s this week in Halifax, with overnight lows in the 30s, according to weather reports.
    — Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of hover
Noun
  • Starting and running a business isn’t for the faint of heart.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
  • Some of the stadium prices aren’t for the faint of heart, with a water alone almost costing $10 and a birria quesadilla almost $30.
    — Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 June 2026
Definition of faint
Verb
  • Baltzor and her husband Keith, had just finished riding a bunch of about 150 hundred head of their cattle down Highway 205 on horseback from another pasture.
    — Anna King, NPR, 25 Oct. 2026
  • JenChan’s floor manager, Maxx Reginello, couldn’t work for a few weeks last year after he was hit while riding his bike home after a double shift on Easter.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of ride

Browse Nearby Words

swills
swim
swimming
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Cite this Entry

“Swim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swim. Accessed 2 Nov. 2026.

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