swap

American  

[swop] / swɒp /

especially British, swop

verb (used with object)

swapped, swapping

1. to exchange, barter, or trade, as one thing for another.

   He swapped his wrist watch for the radio.

2. to substitute (one thing) for another (sometimes followed byin ).

   Swap in red wine for white, since powerful nutrients are in the red grape's skin.

3. to replace (one thing) with another (sometimes followed byout ).

   To cut down on fat, swap cream for milk.

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verb (used without object)

swapped, swapping

1. to make an exchange.

noun

1. an exchange.

   He got the radio in a swap.

swap British  

/ swɒp /

verb

1. to trade or exchange (something or someone) for another

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noun

1. an exchange

2. something that is exchanged

3. Also called: swap option.   swaption.  finance a contract in which the parties to it exchange liabilities on outstanding debts, often exchanging fixed interest-rate for floating-rate debts ( debt swap ), either as a means of managing debt or in trading ( swap trading )

Other Word Forms

• swapper
  noun
• unswapped
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of swap

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English swappen “to strike, strike hands (in bargaining)”; cognate with dialectal German schwappen “to clap, box (the ears)”

Explanation

The word swap means you give something in exchange for something else. In the medieval ages, a farmer would swap — or exchange — his cow for his neighbor's horse. First used in the 1590s to mean "exchange, barter, trade," as a noun swap can mean an equal exchange. You might do a clothes swap with one of your friends in the hopes of perking up your wardrobe. As a verb swap describes the act of exchanging something for something else. You might swap oil for applesauce when baking brownies to make this treat healthier. In computer science swap means you move a piece of a computer program into memory.

Example Sentences

Swap out the poppy seeds for chia seeds and add sesame seeds, onion flakes, garlic powder and flaky sea salt to make an omega-3-rich rendition of the popular Everything Bagel Seasoning.

From Salon • Mar. 31, 2026

Swap traders are pricing in about 50% chance of a third rate cut by December, they added.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 16, 2026

The concern has been especially apparent in Oracle’s credit default swaps, as the cost of insurance on Oracle’s bonds has sharply diverged from the broader investment-grade Credit Default Swap Index in recent weeks.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 10, 2025

Swap rates reflect the market's view of which direction the Bank of England's interest rates will go, so lenders use them to set their own rates.

From BBC • Oct. 13, 2025

"Swap my blood any time fer thet air," said D'ri.

From D'Ri and I by Bacheller, Irving

Related Words

• substitute
• switch
• trade