1
2
as in hovers
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 swims
Hunter Geisel, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
Meet Scuba Santa at Newport Aquarium Watch as Santa swims with sharks, rays, schools of fish and a sea turtle.
—Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Dec. 2025
Whereas Chandler’s Marlowe pursued meaning through corruption, Tarnow swims in a world where corruption and meaning are indistinguishable.
—Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
So first of all, although 10k an hour might not sound like much, keep in mind that an average fin-wearing snorkeler swims no faster than about 5 km/h (3 mph).
—New Atlas, 4 Dec. 2025
Molly swims away with a tracker attached to her back.
—George Solis, NBC news, 28 Nov. 2025
Lo then jumps overboard to escape the assault and swims through the freezing waters to shore.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
The only drama so far is Nicolle swims up to Mel, hangs off his neck, and starts making out with him.
—Ali Barthwell, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
This is all but confirmed when Laura swims in a nearby pond and discovers her parents' missing car.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
Fitness classes include beach spin, yoga, high-intensity interval training, lap swims, pilates, power beach walks, aerial silks, and dynamic movement.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2026
Costar said that there were several weather warnings put in place this week that led to some official and unofficial swims to be canceled.
—Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 25 Dec. 2025
From caves and lakeside swims to wildlife spotting and more, this spot where Missouri meets Arkansas is the perfect place to spend your next break with kids.
—Kaity Velez, Parents, 23 Dec. 2025
So many swims at Dessert, a couple seconds of surfing.
—Dan Rubinstein, Outside, 5 Nov. 2025
Day-trippers dot the lake, braving chilly swims, renting rowboats, and basking in the sun.
—Lucy Kehoe, AFAR Media, 31 Oct. 2025
Chicago River Swim raises money for ALS research The race was organized by A Long Swim, which raises money for ALS research by staging open water swims throughout the United States.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Forest walks, lazy lake days, midday swims, and evening bonfires are a part of your regular day.
—Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
In a video from the rescue mission shared on X, the aircrew is seen deploying a rescue swimmer, who swiftly swims to the disabled vessel and helps each boater to the helicopter's lift.
—Hunter Geisel, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
Meet Scuba Santa at Newport Aquarium Watch as Santa swims with sharks, rays, schools of fish and a sea turtle.
—Caroline Ritzie, Cincinnati Enquirer, 14 Dec. 2025
Whereas Chandler’s Marlowe pursued meaning through corruption, Tarnow swims in a world where corruption and meaning are indistinguishable.
—Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
So first of all, although 10k an hour might not sound like much, keep in mind that an average fin-wearing snorkeler swims no faster than about 5 km/h (3 mph).
—New Atlas, 4 Dec. 2025
Molly swims away with a tracker attached to her back.
—George Solis, NBC news, 28 Nov. 2025
Lo then jumps overboard to escape the assault and swims through the freezing waters to shore.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 10 Oct. 2025
The only drama so far is Nicolle swims up to Mel, hangs off his neck, and starts making out with him.
—Ali Barthwell, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
This is all but confirmed when Laura swims in a nearby pond and discovers her parents' missing car.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
With muddy swims in the water tower, passing trains as social hubs, and plenty of family mischief, the show celebrated simple living with a great sense of humor.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 11 Jan. 2026
Fitness classes include beach spin, yoga, high-intensity interval training, lap swims, pilates, power beach walks, aerial silks, and dynamic movement.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 5 Jan. 2026
Costar said that there were several weather warnings put in place this week that led to some official and unofficial swims to be canceled.
—Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 25 Dec. 2025
From caves and lakeside swims to wildlife spotting and more, this spot where Missouri meets Arkansas is the perfect place to spend your next break with kids.
—Kaity Velez, Parents, 23 Dec. 2025
So many swims at Dessert, a couple seconds of surfing.
—Dan Rubinstein, Outside, 5 Nov. 2025
Day-trippers dot the lake, braving chilly swims, renting rowboats, and basking in the sun.
—Lucy Kehoe, AFAR Media, 31 Oct. 2025
Chicago River Swim raises money for ALS research The race was organized by A Long Swim, which raises money for ALS research by staging open water swims throughout the United States.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025
Forest walks, lazy lake days, midday swims, and evening bonfires are a part of your regular day.
—Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swims
Verb
-
That’s when Hughes stops abruptly, spins away from the challenger while still solidly in possession of the puck and heads back toward the blue line to find either open ice or a teammate who is in position to shoot.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Varied scenes include a video of smokestacks in the unmistakable soft light of a Beijing winter, the artist puffing cigarettes as a Lazy Susan spins leisurely with dishes and a bottle of Nongfu Spring, a local mineral water brand; and a robot getting out of an elevator.—
Stephy Chung,
CNN Money,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Chicago's waste diversion rate – the amount of garbage being recycled instead of dumped in landfills – hovers around 10%.—
Tara Molina,
CBS News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
And the upside to cheaper cars becomes harder to ignore as the average sticker price for a new car in America hovers around a staggering $50,000.—
Patrick George,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Tucked on a hillside in the Rustic Canyon neighborhood, the house floats above a natural spring that flows through the property, resting on six concrete columns sunk 30 feet into the ground.—
Jack Flemming,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
-
An invisible ocean floats above our heads, so why not tap into it, literally?—
Shi En Kim,
AZCentral.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Star Breeze sails year-round in French Polynesia, with voyages departing almost every week, according to the cruise line’s website.—
Natalia Senanayake,
PEOPLE,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Where National Geographic Endurance Sails Endurance often sails in icy waters, including those in the Arctic and around Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands.—
Kristen E. Pope,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The halt of oil shipments from Venezuela has already caused an islandwide gasoline shortage and daily blackouts that in places like Perico, Matanzas have lasted up to 32 hours, Cubans in a WhatsApp group sharing their hours without electricity said.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The series looks at the ramifications of a technology that still eludes a portion of the continent via recurring rolling blackouts.—
Thomas Patier,
Artforum,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The only thing that’s preventing him from being as secure at a spot as Wyatt Langford or Corey Seager are his second-half swoons.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Jan. 2026
-
In swinging sixties London, an elegant middle-aged woman named Leonora swoons in an auction room and is picked up by an antiques dealer and his nephew.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The tent packs up and rides lengthwise on the vehicle but sleeps widthwise thanks to the fold-out floor.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
13 Dec. 2025
-
Bookish candles For the reader who eats, sleeps and breathes books, gift a candle designed with their favorite title in mind.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Swims.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swims. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
