swell
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to grow in bulk, as by the absorption of moisture or the processes of growth.
- Antonyms:
- contract
-
Pathology. to increase abnormally in size, as by inflation, distention, accumulation of fluids, or the like.
Her ankles swelled from standing.
-
to rise in waves, as the sea.
-
to well up, as a spring or as tears.
-
to bulge out, as a sail or the middle of a cask.
- Synonyms:
- protrude
-
to grow in amount, degree, force, etc.
-
to increase gradually in volume or intensity, as sound.
The music swelled.
-
to arise and grow within one, as a feeling or emotion.
-
to become puffed up with pride.
verb (used with object)
-
to cause to grow in bulk.
-
to cause to increase gradually in loudness.
to swell a musical tone.
-
to cause (a thing) to bulge out or be protuberant.
-
to increase in amount, degree, force, etc.
-
to affect with a strong, expansive emotion.
-
to puff up with pride.
noun
-
the act of swelling or the condition of being swollen.
-
inflation or distention.
- Synonyms:
- swelling
-
a protuberant part.
- Synonyms:
- bulge
-
a wave, especially when long and unbroken, or a series of such waves.
- Synonyms:
- billow
-
a gradually rising elevation of the land.
-
an increase in amount, degree, force, etc.
-
a gradual increase in loudness of sound.
-
Music.
-
a gradual increase (crescendo) followed by a gradual decrease (diminuendo) in loudness or force of musical sound.
-
the sign (< >) for indicating this.
-
a device, as in an organ, by which the loudness of tones may be varied.
-
-
a swelling of emotion within one.
-
Slang.
-
a fashionably dressed person; dandy.
-
a socially prominent person.
-
verb
-
to grow or cause to grow in size, esp as a result of internal pressure Compare contract contract
-
to expand or cause to expand at a particular point or above the surrounding level; protrude
-
to grow or cause to grow in size, amount, intensity, or degree
the party is swelling with new recruits
-
to puff or be puffed up with pride or another emotion
-
(intr) (of seas or lakes) to rise in waves
-
(intr) to well up or overflow
-
(tr) to make (a musical phrase) increase gradually in volume and then diminish
noun
-
-
the undulating movement of the surface of the open sea
-
a succession of waves or a single large wave
-
-
a swelling or being swollen; expansion
-
an increase in quantity or degree; inflation
-
a bulge; protuberance
-
a gentle hill
-
informal a person very fashionably dressed
-
informal a man of high social or political standing
-
music a crescendo followed by an immediate diminuendo
-
Also called: swell organ. music
adjective
-
informal stylish or grand
-
slang excellent; first-class
Other Word Forms
- reswell verb
- underswell verb (used without object)
- unswelled adjective
Etymology
Origin of swell
First recorded before 900; Middle English swellen (verb), Old English swellan; cognate with Dutch zwellen, German schwellen, Old Norse svella; akin to Gothic ufswalleins “pride”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The whole process would take several months and cost roughly the price of a swell vacation.
From Los Angeles Times
Crowds have swelled on campuses in major cities to join memorials for peers.
Even before that meeting, the tide had turned for Paramount in a swell of power, politics and brinkmanship.
From Los Angeles Times
The Declaration of Independence was preceded by a decadeslong swell of resentment, incitement and violence.
What begins as a series of secret trysts swells over a decade into fervent, undeniable love.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
