swimming

Definition of swimmingnext
present participle of swim
1
as in spinning
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in sailing
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 swimming All up, construction takes about seven to nine days, during which the male maintains the geometry by swimming along the sand and fanning its fins, creating straight-line segments. New Atlas, 3 Jan. 2026 Video showed one of the rescuers swimming out to Phoenix, who paddled toward the man. Riley Rourke, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026 Apparently, Princess Kate enjoys swimming in extremely cold streams and pools in the dark. Lauryn Overhultz , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2025 And no, there weren’t crowds swimming in Hurricane Melissa’s floodwaters on the streets. Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for swimming
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swimming
Verb
  • After more than a week of silence on the slopes, the lifts are spinning again at Telluride Ski Resort.
    Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2026
  • Far from turning on her, the audience awards her with a head-spinning third applause break in just 50 seconds.
    John Roy, Vulture, 13 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The finale then opens with a young Catherine preparing to go sailing with her parents and sister, Andrea (Savanna Gann).
    Derek Lawrence, HollywoodReporter, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Both ships are currently sailing westward to South Korea’s Port of Busan.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The vessel is capable of station keeping and hovering.
    Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 9 Jan. 2026
  • Half of Jewish Americans ages 18-34 believe Israel has committed genocide in Gaza; that percentage number is hovering in the 30s among older groups, according to a September 2025 poll by the Washington Post.
    Joseph Strauss, Sun Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Brouk & Co Pearl Travel Jewelry Case Admittedly, my jewelry is often treated as an afterthought during travel, floating at the bottom of my toiletry bag or in a random duffel pocket.
    Annie Blackman, InStyle, 15 Jan. 2026
  • Injecting the drug in space wasn't easy, however, as microgravity turned the liquid in the vial into floating drops that had to be hunted down with the needle.
    Nell Greenfieldboyce, NPR, 14 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Afternoons here are deliciously drowsy, spent dozing in the shade, gently parting calm sea water, or gliding past craggy rock formations in a little motor-boat.
    Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
  • That’s why the team turned to look into how these insects transition between jumping, flapping, and gliding.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Saudi geopolitical researcher Salman Al-Ansari rejects claims that Riyadh is drifting ideologically or embracing Islamist movements, framing Saudi policy as interest-driven.
    Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 13 Jan. 2026
  • Arda Guler started the season well, either positioned permanently on the right flank or drifting there from the centre, but is on a run of 19 appearances without a goal or an assist.
    Michael Cox, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Swimming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swimming. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on swimming

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!