swap

[ swop ]

verb (used with object)

, swapped, swap·ping.

1. to exchange, barter, or trade, as one thing for another:

   He swapped his wrist watch for the radio.

2. to substitute (one thing) for another (sometimes followed by in ):

   Swap in red wine for white, since powerful nutrients are in the red grape's skin.

3. to replace (one thing) with another (sometimes followed by out ):

   To cut down on fat, swap cream for milk.

verb (used without object)

, swapped, swap·ping.

1. to make an exchange.

noun

1. an exchange:

   He got the radio in a swap.

swap

/ swɒp /

verb

1. to trade or exchange (something or someone) for another

noun

1. an exchange
2. something that is exchanged
3. Also calledswap optionswaption finance a contract in which the parties to it exchange liabilities on outstanding debts, often exchanging fixed interest-rate for floating-rate debts ( debt swap ), either as a means of managing debt or in trading ( swap trading )

Derived Forms

• ˈswapper, noun

Other Words From

• swapper noun
• un·swapped adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of swap¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English swappen “to strike, strike hands (in bargaining)”; cognate with dialectal German schwappen “to clap, box (the ears)”

Word History and Origins

Origin of swap¹

C14 (in the sense: to shake hands on a bargain, strike): probably of imitative origin

Example Sentences

The Nets agreed to send Caris LeVert, Rodions Kurucs, first-round picks in 2022, 2024 and 2026 and swaps in 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027 to Houston.

From Washington Post

The Nets will send Caris LeVert, Rodion Kurucs, first-round picks in 2022, 2024 and 2026 and swaps in 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2027 to Houston.

From Washington Post

That way, if the vaccine virus was able to ditch that modification by way of a swap, it would lose this necessary string of genetic letters too, and die out.

From Science News

However, the monetary value of the shareholder’s stock should remain roughly equal before and after the swap.

From Fortune

Seed swaps and projects like Open Source Ecology encourage people to grow, build, and print the world they want to see around them.

From Singularity Hub 

Asprey was inspired to swap out butter for traditional coffee creamers while on a trip to Nepal.

From The Daily Beast

The U.S. got a relatively good deal—three Cuban spies were returned to their country in the swap.

From The Daily Beast

Swap out that blond with the A-cup for a busty redhead in an instant.

From The Daily Beast

A webcam girl could offer a “hands on” interactive session without ever having to leave the bedroom or swap bodily fluids.

From The Daily Beast

Eventually, Kiev agreed to swap Kulygina for 17 captured officials, including Budik.

From The Daily Beast

If the Turks are given time to swap troops in the middle of fighting, we can't really tell how we stand.

From Project Gutenberg

You never knowed a sound dodge around so, and swap places so quick and so much.

From Project Gutenberg

It wasn't a month before your little local stockholders began to get together and swap stock and sell it.

From Project Gutenberg

It was a great treat to me to be able to “swap lies” with so many people, after two months almost wholly alone!

From Project Gutenberg

I'd swap all my education in a minute for the mighty body and the healthy and lusty living that you enjoy.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• substitute
• switch
• trade