Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

swelling

American  
[swel-ing] / ˈswɛl ɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act of a person or thing that swells.

  2. the condition of being or becoming swollen.

  3. a swollen part; a protuberance or prominence.

  4. Pathology. an abnormal enlargement or protuberance, as that resulting from edema.

swelling British  
/ ˈswɛlɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act of expansion or inflation

  2. the state of being or becoming swollen

  3. a swollen or inflated part or area

  4. an abnormal enlargement of a bodily structure or part, esp as the result of injury

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of swelling

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; swell + -ing 1

Vocabulary lists containing swelling

"Because I Could Not Stop for Death" by Emily Dickinson

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!

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.

Remember the unsatisfying finale to “The Sopranos”? Swelling crescendo ... then abrupt cut to black?

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 19, 2026

Swelling of the brain, resulting in death or damage that could involve any part of it, is perhaps the most frightening thing that measles can do to your child.

From Salon • Mar. 11, 2025

Swelling can make it difficult for health care providers to administer antivenin—medicine that neutralizes snake venom—if it turns out you need it, Williams said.

From Slate • Aug. 19, 2023

Swelling can also be a sign of gout or kidney problems, Geter added, and tingling and numbness in the feet can indicate diabetes.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 5, 2023

Harry’s Swelling Solution was far too runny, but he had his mind on more important things.

From "Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets" by J. K. Rowling

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.