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.
Before his Nov. 25, 2020, death by a heart attack, Maradona’s belly had swollen like a beach ball, and his heart was covered in fat and blood clots.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 16, 2026
In recent weeks he also had swollen feet.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 16, 2023
Between the heat of the fire, water from the hoses and exposure to the elements, the keyboard had swollen and warped, its keys fused together.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2023
A jury heard his optometrist Honey Rose failed to notice that the boy, from Suffolk, had swollen optic discs, an abnormality which is a symptom of hydrocephalus - fluid on the brain.
From BBC ● Feb. 16, 2023
My face had swollen and was puffy and old-looking.
From "Kindred" by Octavia Butler
