swim
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to move in water by movements of the limbs, fins, tail, etc.
-
to float on the surface of water or some other liquid.
-
to move, rest, or be suspended in air as if swimming in water.
-
to move, glide, or go smoothly over a surface.
-
to be immersed or steeped in or overflowing or flooded with a liquid.
eyes swimming with tears.
-
to be dizzy or giddy; seem to whirl.
My head began to swim.
verb (used with object)
-
to move along in or cross (a body of water) by swimming.
to swim a lake.
-
to perform (a particular stroke) in swimming.
to swim a sidestroke.
-
to cause to swim or float, as on a stream.
-
to furnish with sufficient water to swim or float.
noun
-
an act, instance, or period of swimming.
-
a motion as of swimming; a smooth, gliding movement.
idioms
verb
-
(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
-
(tr) to cover (a distance or stretch of water) in this way
-
(tr) to compete in (a race) in this way
-
(intr) to be supported by and on a liquid; float
-
(tr) to use (a particular stroke) in swimming
-
(intr) to move smoothly, usually through air or over a surface
-
(intr) to reel or seem to reel
my head swam
the room swam around me
-
(intr; often foll by in or with) to be covered or flooded with water or other liquid
-
to be liberally supplied (with)
he's swimming in money
-
(tr) to cause to float or swim
-
(tr) to provide (something) with water deep enough to float in
-
to resist prevailing opinion
-
to conform to prevailing opinion
noun
-
the act, an instance, or period of swimming
-
any graceful gliding motion
-
a condition of dizziness; swoon
-
a pool in a river good for fishing
-
informal fashionable or active in social or political activities
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has swumperfect 3rd person singular
-
have swumperfect
-
am swimmingprogressive 1st person singular
-
are swimmingprogressive
-
have been swimmingperfect progressive
-
has been swimmingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
swimmingparticiple
-
swimssingular 3rd person
-
is swimmingprogressive 3rd person singular
Past
-
had swumperfect
-
had been swimmingperfect progressive
-
were swimmingprogressive plural
-
was swimmingprogressive singular
-
swamsimple
-
swumparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of swim
First recorded before 900; Middle English swimmen, Old English swimman; cognate with Dutch zwemmen, German schwimmen, Old Norse svimma
Explanation
When you move yourself through the water using your arms and legs, you swim. If you live near the ocean, it's probably a good idea to learn how to swim. You might decide to swim across the English Channel, or, if you're a little less adventurous, just swim in your town's swimming pool. When things appear to be submerged as if underwater, they swim too: "I like it when the mashed potatoes swim in gravy." And when something appears fuzzy or whirling, it also seems to swim: "I was so tired the equations on the chalkboard began to swim." The root of swim means "to be in motion."
Vocabulary lists containing swim
Words with Two Past-Tense Forms That Creeped (or Crept) into English
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Words to Know and Academic Words, Unit 6
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
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.
If the state doesn’t act, Bothwell said, “our waterways will never be safe to fish or swim in, particularly Southern California beaches.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026
"At least I know how to swim," he told AFP, an advantage over many of the others aboard the boat.
From Barron's • Jun. 3, 2026
The researchers found that when a fish was about to swim toward another fish, changes in brain activity began several seconds before the movement itself.
From Science Daily • Jun. 2, 2026
“There’s people who swim and surf at the beach currently,” said Daly, who lives nearby.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026
“Don’t be selfish, Lexie. The business, which is going to pay for our rent and groceries, is obviously more important than your swim, or your little essay. Get your priorities straight.”
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
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.
