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
The robot can hop across grass and sand, climb small steps, and, with fins attached, even swim. — New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026 Other marine mammals, such as harbor seals, have also been known to swim into the Delta. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Noun
While Goldfish is not autobiographical, the script draws on his years on his high school swim team. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026 Leo regularly plays tennis and swims at the papal summer retreat in Castel Gandolfo, according to The Associated Press. — Stephen Sorace, FOXNews.com, 11 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
  • Allison worries everyday fans are being conditioned to see the diamond – or the court or the field – as slot machines and the human athletes as spinning symbols that sometimes align as dollar signs.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
  • That level of control precluded a Vatican media operation from spinning tall tales as occurred during John Paul's reign.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of spin
Verb
  • One tanker is now sailing toward Poland through the Red Sea, according to Bloomberg, and at least 20 more shipments have passed through the Strait of Hormuz to other destinations since early September.
    — semafor.com, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Needing 11 yards on fourth down to continue their drive and cut into a 23-7 Packers lead, Prescott narrowly avoided a sack before lofting a pass that sailed out the back of the end zone, not close to any particular Cowboys receiver.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 19 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
  • That was something for everyone else; for those who were not named after the bag and who were not lucky enough to float through life in the way that Birkin appeared to.
    — Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Together with changes that allowed the naira currency to float freely by market forces, Tinubu’s subsidy removal helped to improve Nigeria’s fiscal stability and strengthen reserves.
    — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 19 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 26 Oct. 2026.

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