swell
verb (used without object)
to grow in bulk, as by the absorption of moisture or the processes of growth.
had swollen
-
past perfectof swell.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
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.
By the middle of 1849 the number of prospectors had swollen to more than 50,000, lured from every continent.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
Isiekwe has won 11 England caps, having made his debut as a 19-year-old in 2017, but faced the prospect of early retirement two years ago after an MRI scan showed his aorta had swollen dangerously.
From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2024
Rafah’s population had swollen to more than one million as Gazans displaced from their homes fled to the area earlier in the conflict.
From New York Times ● May 27, 2024
The weather was unseasonably warm in Serbia for weeks late last year, and the Danube had swollen due to the melting of snow upstream.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 9, 2024
Milkman’s neck had swollen so it was difficult for him to lower his chin without pain.
From "Song of Solomon" by Toni Morrison
