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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

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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 swim
Verb
Late-stage larvae then burst out, grow a forked tail, and swim to find an animal host. — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026 The rehabbers take to kayaks and encourage the kits to swim back and forth. — ABC News, 21 Sep. 2026
Noun
Lakeview High School parent Andy Amsdill first went to the school with concerns about the syllabus for his daughter's ninth-grade gym class, which required female students to disclose the length of their menstrual cycles to make up swim days. — Heath Kalb, CBS News, 19 Sep. 2026 At one point in the swim, her hand went directly into a compass jellyfish, leaving it numb for a while. — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 18 Sep. 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
  • To spin total concoctions into something so riveting is — for better or worse — an admirable cinematic skill, one Hur uses to turn a tale of forensic malfeasance into mass entertainment of considerable quality.
    — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
  • There’s even a record player where vinyl fans can spin classic tunes!
    — Erika Ebsworth-Goold, Travel + Leisure, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of spin
Verb
  • For longtime fans of the brand, Ponant is a reliably luxe way to sail expedition-style to adventurous destinations—though as one fellow traveler and repeat guest pointed out to me, several other cruise lines now offer this once-rare combination.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The family sailed on the Lusitania in 1914, a year before a German torpedo sank the ship and killed nearly twelve hundred people.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of sail
Noun
  • At its best, Happiness Anytime finds Bridges stretching out as a singer, leaning into the trance-like rhythms provided by Jungle’s Tom McFarland, Josh Lloyd-Watson and Lydia Kitto.
    — Jonathan Bernstein, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026
  • There are better descriptors for trance cinema, for things that are slow or obtuse.
    — Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of trance
Verb
  • Soon, the pincher floats free of her consciousness, briefly inhabiting the mind of Pola or Ines before flickering back into herself.
    — Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026
  • This half is the result of genetic material that can clip itself out of the DNA sequence, float off, and re-root somewhere else.
    — Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of float
Noun
  • 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
  • Kutsuna has an impish twinkle; Yamada mutely swans about in a daze like an opium fiend.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
Definition of daze
Verb
  • After lingering over spaghetti alle vongole at Ristorante Lido Azzurro, which hovers over the sea near Amalfi’s harbor, zip around the coast to sea caverns and grottos, pausing for dips in secluded spots away from the crowds.
    — Lane Nieset, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Yields on Japan’s 10-year bonds rose to their highest level in three decades, while US Treasury yields hovered above 5%, a level not seen since the 2007 financial crisis, helping push American mortgage rates to more than 7%.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 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
  • The main advantages of a pop-top like this one are to create more headroom inside a vehicle that rides low and to add space for a second bed.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Sep. 2026
  • So get ready to ride the rails because these beautiful train trips in Italy are just as much about the journey as the destination.
    — Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 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 28 Sep. 2026.

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