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Synonyms

swim

American  
[swim] / swɪm /

verb (used without object)

swam, swum, swimming
  1. to move in water by movements of the limbs, fins, tail, etc.

  2. to float on the surface of water or some other liquid.

  3. to move, rest, or be suspended in air as if swimming in water.

  4. to move, glide, or go smoothly over a surface.

  5. to be immersed or steeped in or overflowing or flooded with a liquid.

    eyes swimming with tears.

  6. to be dizzy or giddy; seem to whirl.

    My head began to swim.


verb (used with object)

swam, swum, swimming
  1. to move along in or cross (a body of water) by swimming.

    to swim a lake.

  2. to perform (a particular stroke) in swimming.

    to swim a sidestroke.

  3. to cause to swim or float, as on a stream.

  4. to furnish with sufficient water to swim or float.

noun

  1. an act, instance, or period of swimming.

  2. a motion as of swimming; a smooth, gliding movement.

idioms

  1. in the swim, alert to or actively engaged in events; in the thick of things.

    Despite her age, she is still in the swim.

swim British  
/ swɪm /

verb

  1. (intr) to move along in water, etc, by means of movements of the body or parts of the body, esp the arms and legs, or (in the case of fish) tail and fins

  2. (tr) to cover (a distance or stretch of water) in this way

  3. (tr) to compete in (a race) in this way

  4. (intr) to be supported by and on a liquid; float

  5. (tr) to use (a particular stroke) in swimming

  6. (intr) to move smoothly, usually through air or over a surface

  7. (intr) to reel or seem to reel

    my head swam

    the room swam around me

  8. (intr; often foll by in or with) to be covered or flooded with water or other liquid

  9. to be liberally supplied (with)

    he's swimming in money

  10. (tr) to cause to float or swim

  11. (tr) to provide (something) with water deep enough to float in

  12. to resist prevailing opinion

  13. to conform to prevailing opinion

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the act, an instance, or period of swimming

  2. any graceful gliding motion

  3. a condition of dizziness; swoon

  4. a pool in a river good for fishing

  5. informal fashionable or active in social or political activities

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
swim More Idioms  

    More idioms and phrases containing swim


Other Word Forms

  • nonswimmer noun
  • outswim verb
  • swimmable adjective
  • swimmer noun
  • swimming noun

Etymology

Origin of swim

First recorded before 900; Middle English swimmen, Old English swimman; cognate with Dutch zwemmen, German schwimmen, Old Norse svimma

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.

It was at that moment that Alexandra, who cannot swim, decided to climb down a ladder on the water's edge to try and rescue Snickers.

From BBC

Robertson arranges stargazing in her mobile observatory, night hikes, swims and meteor watch parties.

From BBC

There, aquarium visitors can see sick or injured turtles swim, be fed or receive medical treatment, depending on when they stop by.

From Los Angeles Times

After often years at sea, adult Atlantic salmon swim thousands of miles to return to the chalk streams where they were born.

From BBC

Clinton swimming with Ghislaine Maxwell in one undated photo; reclining in the hot tub next to the person whose face has been blacked out.

From BBC