swallow

¹ American  

[swol-oh] / ˈswɒl oʊ /

verb (used with object)

1. to take into the stomach by drawing through the throat and esophagus with a voluntary muscular action, as food, drink, or other substances.

   Synonyms:

   quaff, imbibe, drink, down, devour, gulp, ingest, eat

   Antonyms:

   void, egest

2. to take in so as to envelop; withdraw from sight; assimilate or absorb.

   He was swallowed by the crowd.

   Synonyms:

   surround, envelop, engulf

3. to accept without question or suspicion; believe; trust.

   Antonyms:

   discredit, disbelieve

4. to accept without opposition; put up with.

   to swallow an insult.

5. to accept for lack of an alternative.

   Consumers will have to swallow new price hikes.

6. to suppress (emotion, a laugh, a sob, etc.) as if by drawing it down one's throat.

   Synonyms:

   suppress, submerge, strangle, stifle, smother, repress, pocket, hold in, choke (back)

   Antonyms:

   vent, express

7. to take back; retract.

   to swallow one's words.

8. to enunciate poorly; mutter.

   He swallowed his words.

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verb (used without object)

1. to perform the act of swallowing.

noun

1. the act or an instance of swallowing.

   Synonyms:

   sip, draft, gulp, taste, nibble, morsel, bite

2. a quantity swallowed at one time; a mouthful.

   Take one swallow of brandy.

3. capacity for swallowing.

4. Also called crown, throat.  Nautical, Machinery. the space in a block, between the groove of the sheave and the shell, through which the rope runs.

swallow ² American  

[swol-oh] / ˈswɒl oʊ /

noun

1. any of numerous small, long-winged passerine birds of the family Hirundinidae, noted for their swift, graceful flight and for the extent and regularity of their migrations.

2. any of several unrelated, swallowlike birds, as the chimney swift.

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swallow ¹ British  

/ ˈswɒləʊ /

verb

1. to pass (food, drink, etc) through the mouth to the stomach by means of the muscular action of the oesophagus

2. (often foll by up) to engulf or destroy as if by ingestion

   Nazi Germany swallowed up several small countries

3. informal to believe gullibly

   he will never swallow such an excuse

4. to refrain from uttering or manifesting

   to swallow one's disappointment

5. to endure without retaliation

6. to enunciate (words, etc) indistinctly; mutter

7. (often foll by down) to eat or drink reluctantly

8. (intr) to perform or simulate the act of swallowing, as in gulping

9. to retract a statement, argument, etc, often in humiliating circumstances

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noun

1. the act of swallowing

2. the amount swallowed at any single time; mouthful

3. Also called: crown.   throat.  nautical the opening between the shell and the groove of the sheave of a block, through which the rope is passed

4. rare another word for throat gullet

5. rare a capacity for swallowing; appetite

swallow ² British  

/ ˈswɒləʊ /

noun

1. any passerine songbird of the family Hirundinidae, esp Hirundo rustica ( common or barn swallow ), having long pointed wings, a forked tail, short legs, and a rapid flight

2. See fairy swallow

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swallow Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing swallow

• bitter pill to swallow

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Other Word Forms

• swallow-like adjective
• swallowable adjective
• swallower noun
• unswallowable adjective
• unswallowed adjective

Etymology

Origin of swallow¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English verb swolwen, swalwen, Old English swelgan; cognate with German schwelgen; akin to Old Norse svelgja; Middle English noun swolwe, swoluh, Old English geswelgh “throat, abyss, whirlpool”; akin to Middle Low German swelch, Old High German swelgo “glutton,” Old Norse svelgr “swirl, whirlpool; devourer”

Origin of swallow²

First recorded before 900; Middle English swal(e)we, Old English sweal(e)we; cognate with German Schwalbe, Old Norse svala

Explanation

When you swallow food or liquid is pushed from your mouth to the esophagus. Chew your food well before you swallow it. As a verb, swallow means "to enclose or envelop completely," like quicksand that swallows everything that falls into it. Swallow can also mean "to stop from expressing," like when you swallow your pride and ask for help. The noun swallow describes a gulp, though you don't always do it for digestion; sometimes a few swallows of air help you keep from crying. A swallow is also a type of small songbird.

Example Sentences

These demands would be a bitter pill for Washington and its Gulf Arab allies to swallow.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

Paramount would have a bitter pill to swallow if regulators actually blocked the transaction.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

That shows many investors believe it’s wise to swallow their fears of war, but he thinks that “is a total misreading of history,” given its impact on energy and fertilizer supplies.

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

Once expressed on the surface of the astrocytes, the CAR allowed the cells to capture and swallow amyloid beta proteins.

From Science Daily • Mar. 11, 2026

The lump in Josie’s throat grew until it felt too big to swallow.

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Related Words

• absorb
• devour
• drink
• eat
• gobble
• gulp
• ingest
• inhale
• wash down