swell

American  

[swel] / swɛl /

verb (used without object)

• swells,
  present (3rd person singular)
• swelled,
  past participle,  past
• swollen,
  past participle
• swelling
  present participle

1. to grow in bulk, as by the absorption of moisture or the processes of growth.

   Synonyms:

   expand, distend

   Antonyms:

   contract

2. Pathology. to increase abnormally in size, as by inflation, distention, accumulation of fluids, or the like.

   Her ankles swelled from standing.

3. to rise in waves, as the sea.

4. to well up, as a spring or as tears.

5. to bulge out, as a sail or the middle of a cask.

   Synonyms:

   protrude

6. to grow in amount, degree, force, etc.

7. to increase gradually in volume or intensity, as sound.

   The music swelled.

8. to arise and grow within one, as a feeling or emotion.

9. to become puffed up with pride.

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verb (used with object)

• swells,
  present (3rd person singular)
• swelled,
  past participle,  past
• swollen,
  past participle
• swelling
  present participle

1. to cause to grow in bulk.

   Synonyms:

   expand, inflate

2. to cause to increase gradually in loudness.

   to swell a musical tone.

3. to cause (a thing) to bulge out or be protuberant.

4. to increase in amount, degree, force, etc.

   Antonyms:

   diminish, decrease

5. to affect with a strong, expansive emotion.

6. to puff up with pride.

noun

• swells
  plural

1. the act of swelling or the condition of being swollen.

2. inflation or distention.

   Synonyms:

   swelling

3. a protuberant part.

   Synonyms:

   bulge

4. a wave, especially when long and unbroken, or a series of such waves.

   Synonyms:

   billow

5. a gradually rising elevation of the land.

6. an increase in amount, degree, force, etc.

7. a gradual increase in loudness of sound.

8. Music.

   1. a gradual increase (crescendo) followed by a gradual decrease (diminuendo) in loudness or force of musical sound.

   2. the sign (< >) for indicating this.

   3. a device, as in an organ, by which the loudness of tones may be varied.

9. a swelling of emotion within one.

10. Slang.

    1. a fashionably dressed person; dandy.

    2. a socially prominent person.

adjective

Informal.

1. (of things) stylish; elegant.

   a swell hotel.

2. (of persons) fashionably dressed or socially prominent.

   Synonyms:

   grand

3. first-rate; fine.

   a swell party.

   Synonyms:

   grand

swell British  

/ swɛl /

verb

1. to grow or cause to grow in size, esp as a result of internal pressure Compare contract contract

2. to expand or cause to expand at a particular point or above the surrounding level; protrude

3. to grow or cause to grow in size, amount, intensity, or degree

   the party is swelling with new recruits

4. to puff or be puffed up with pride or another emotion

5. (intr) (of seas or lakes) to rise in waves

6. (intr) to well up or overflow

7. (tr) to make (a musical phrase) increase gradually in volume and then diminish

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noun

1. 1. the undulating movement of the surface of the open sea

   2. a succession of waves or a single large wave

2. a swelling or being swollen; expansion

3. an increase in quantity or degree; inflation

4. a bulge; protuberance

5. a gentle hill

6. informal a person very fashionably dressed

7. informal a man of high social or political standing

8. music a crescendo followed by an immediate diminuendo

9. Also called: swell organ.  music

   1. a set of pipes on an organ housed in a box ( swell box ) fitted with a shutter operated by a pedal, which can be opened or closed to control the volume

   2. the manual on an organ controlling this Compare choir great

adjective

1. informal stylish or grand

2. slang excellent; first-class

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• underswell
  noun
• reswell
  verb
• underswell
  verb (used without object)
• unswelled
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• swells
  plural

Participles

• swelling
  present
• swelled
  past
• swollen
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• swell
  simple
• swells
  simple
• have swelled
  perfect
• have swollen
  perfect
• has swelled
  perfect
• has swollen
  perfect
• am swelling
  progressive
• are swelling
  progressive
• is swelling
  progressive
• have been swelling
  perfect progressive
• has been swelling
  perfect progressive

Past

• swelled
  simple
• had swelled
  perfect
• had swollen
  perfect
• was swelling
  progressive
• were swelling
  progressive
• had been swelling
  perfect progressive

Future

• will swell
  simple
• will have swelled
  perfect
• will have swollen
  perfect
• will be swelling
  progressive
• will have been swelling
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of swell

First recorded before 900; Middle English swellen (verb), Old English swellan; cognate with Dutch zwellen, German schwellen, Old Norse svella; akin to Gothic ufswalleins “pride”

Explanation

To swell is to expand or grow larger. If your brother's face started to swell after he ate lobster for the first time, you'd probably guess that he's allergic to shellfish. You can use the word swell to describe what happens to an injured body part, like a black eye that swells up, or in a figurative way, to describe a feeling of fullness, like when your heart swells with pride at your sister's big music performance. In the 1930s, swell became a popular slang term meaning "great" or "excellent." But it also can describe a wealthy, elegant person, like a group of swells at a fancy restaurant.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

swell swells swelled swollen swelling

The swell of local outrage has also pushed city officials to reconsider how they permit big projects like data centers in the future.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

They might subside for a little bit, but another system — Tropical Storm Fausto — could generate “another set of elevated swell at our beaches later this week into the weekend.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 20, 2026

Openings typically swell when companies are getting ready to hire.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 11, 2026

Losing practice sets to 44-year-old Serena Williams and Jessica Pegula did not swell her confidence, but the words of coach Sandra Zaniewska did.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

The insects had made a meal out of their feet, causing them to swell up painfully.

From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple

The National Weather Service has repeatedly warned of dangerous rip currents and elevated surf in recent weeks as multiple southerly swells battered the coastlines of Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026

Condos are becoming cheaper as inventory swells — but experts warn that the list price doesn’t paint the full picture.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 7, 2026

While his detractors focus on what Musk has failed to deliver, support swells from the superlatives he has achieved.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 13, 2026

Wellington Mayor Andrew Little declared a state of emergency on the eve of the swells for seaside residents in Owhiro Bay, Island Bay, Houghton Bay and Breaker Bay.

From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026

Floating I saw only the sky, and felt the drop and lift of the swells.

From "The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway

That’s 28 miles as the crow flies, but our route, with a detour for lunch in Cuyama, swelled the journey to more than 100 miles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

Additionally, even though Pochettino is a South American who came to the U.S. via Europe’s top soccer leagues, he fully embraced the American pride that swelled at the tournament.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

Her initial following of around 2,000 followers on TikTok swelled to more than 175,000 in the span of eight months.

From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026

Inventory on the balance sheet swelled to $11.1 billion last quarter, nearly doubling from a year before.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026

Three mice swelled Pax’s belly and a muskrat dangled from his mouth, his first large prey.

From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker

In response, the “Bandit” singer recalled the moment when a doctor told him the left side of his heart was swollen.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

However, quickfire wins in spring 2025 led to a Windsor Park meeting with Ishmael Davis, edging a split decision verdict having pulled himself off the canvas and suffering a badly swollen eye.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

Katzenback said the airy feeling I had leaving my treatment was likely linked to temporary changes in fluid distribution, which can “make people feel less swollen or heavy, especially after travel.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

But the person's features were so swollen that she couldn't be sure it was her.

From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026

The clouds were an angry swollen gray and looked like they were about to burst.

From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith

Both Super Micro and CoreWeave pointed to swelling backlogs reflecting ongoing customer demand for AI hardware.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 13, 2026

Growth since April’s weakness has been concentrated in the private sector, swelling by roughly 146,000 in three months.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

Trauma injuries left her with lymphoedema, a chronic condition that causes severe swelling in her leg.

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026

The yen has been weakening because of the gap between Japanese and US interest rates, high oil prices and concerns about Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's spending plans further swelling Japan's enormous debts.

From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026

When she says this, I don’t feel tears swelling or sadness in my heart.

From "Betty Before X" by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renée Watson

Related Words

• accumulate
• add to
• balloon
• bloat
• bulge
• enlarge
• expand
• fatten
• grow
• increase
• mount
• rise
• surge