Synonyms

swimming

American

[swim-ing] / ˈswɪm ɪŋ /

noun

the act of a person or thing that swims.
the skill or technique of a person who swims.
the sport of swimming.

adjective

pertaining to, characterized by, or capable of swimming.
used in or for swimming.

swimming trunks.
immersed in or overflowing with water or some other liquid.
dizzy or giddy.

a swimming head.

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of swimming

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English swimmende (adjective). See swim, -ing ², -ing ¹

Explanation

Swimming is an activity that involves moving through the water using your arms and legs. One of the best ways to cool off on a hot summer day is swimming in a cold lake or pool. Swimming is both a casual activity and a serious sport. To you, swimming may involve splashing through the waves or dog-paddling across a public pool. Olympic athletes, on the other hand, swim distances as far as 1500 meters at unbelievable speeds. As an adjective, swimming describes anything that swims or that's used for swimming, like a swimming hole. You can also poetically describe a crying person's eyes as "swimming with tears."

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Vocabulary lists containing swimming

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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.

Wycombe District Swimming Club, where Amelia was a long-time member, said the club was "devastated" and described her as a "beloved friend".

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2026

By comparison, the Swimming Pigs Express package the cruise line offered was $154 for adults.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

Enhanced responded in August by filing an $800 million lawsuit in New York’s Southern District against World Aquatics, USA Swimming, and WADA, alleging antitrust violations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 25, 2025

Swimming in the penultimate heat of the timed final he clocked 3:38.25, which held up for third place in a race won by American Carson Foster in 3:37.80.

From Barron's • Oct. 11, 2025

Swimming to the drift, she started sniffing around.

From "Where the Red Fern Grows" by Wilson Rawls

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023