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swimming

verb

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

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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 The humpback was caught on video spouting water while swimming close to shore. — Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 18 Sep. 2026 After 15 hours and 5 minutes, Christine Turpin just kept swimming. — Rachel Roberts, Idaho Statesman, 18 Sep. 2026 Those fishing off the Malibu Pier were surprised in mid-August by a hammerhead shark swimming nearby. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026 It’s believed that Lillian Smart acquired it while swimming in Lake Claiborne. — Adam England, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026 Some of this year’s winners and honorable mentions included tiny jellyfish larvae swimming inside water droplets, a colorful sea slug wiggling along and many different forms of cells exploring their microscopic worlds. — Adrianne Morales, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2026 The flavor is overwhelmingly oversized, proving that few things look as luxurious as swimming around in a gigantic khaki coat. — Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 14 Sep. 2026 The family had already gone swimming, but Michael took the 11-year-old Joseph down to the beach. — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026 Winter also brings memorable encounters with whales across Australia, including swimming with dwarf minke whales along the Great Barrier Reef from June through July and spotting migrating humpbacks along the east coast from May through October. — Stuart Rigg, Travel + Leisure, 4 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swimming
  1. spinning
  2. sailing
  3. hovering
  4. floating
  5. gliding
  6. drifting
Verb
  • Speaking to Deadline several weeks back, Jackson said the indie’s strategy is to keep the plates spinning with one or two returners while simultaneously seeking interesting IP for limited series.
    — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Ongoing legal battle The concession comes after a head-spinning legal battle between supporters and opponents of the 2022 and 2025 congressional map.
    — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of spinning
Verb
  • After sailing about half an hour, Choi’s navy yard utility boat slowed and hovered – never fully stopping as the water was far deeper than the length of the anchor.
    — Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The Costa Cruises vessel was reportedly sailing from Naples to Sicily when the brawl erupted at sea.
    — Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of sailing
Verb
  • But Cress points out that for news helicopters, and police choppers, hovering and maintaining low altitude is a common practice.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
  • As a major energy importer with global oil prices hovering above 100 dollars per barrel, the Indian rupee has dropped near its lowest level against the dollar since late July.
    — , CNBC, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of hovering
Verb
  • The property also has a private landing stage, from which canal tours and even floating dinners can be arranged.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Working through an entire day and night, the pair construct an elaborate means of floating the heavy boxes down a river on a raft built from wooden pallets, steel drums, and propane tanks.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of floating
Verb
  • JoJo, Messing and Newport quickly whipped out their phones to capture videos of the models gliding down the runway and posing right in front of them before continuing their trek around Cipriani in downtown Manhattan.
    — Anika Reed, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026
  • At times, perhaps surfing or more calmly gliding away from pressure will offer a better alternative to an all-out sprint toward the sideline.
    — Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of gliding
Verb
  • Time with ageing parents, a partner drifting away or children growing up cannot always be reclaimed.
    — Michelle De Almeida, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Democrats see Luna’s district as flippable despite Florida drifting rightward in previous cycles.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of drifting

Browse Nearby Words

swim
swimming
swimmingly
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Cite this Entry

“Swimming.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swimming. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on swimming

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about swimming

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