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.

---

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

---

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 next month, DoorDash’s business surged as it got a once-in-a-lifetime swell in orders due to the pandemic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 29, 2026

It's been chartered by the field's owners from Aberdeen-based Altera and, during my 48 hours on board, it was constantly but gently rolling on the North Atlantic swell.

From BBC ● Oct. 24, 2026

Carney's decision to recently walk away from trade talks with the US gave rise to another swell of Canadian pride and patriotism.

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

“These waves, combined with an incoming long-period southerly swell, will cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions,” the National Hurricane Center said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 11, 2026

Being useful made him swell with pride, and he always gravitated back to me because I praised him when he did things right and was patient when he got them wrong.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Bill Conti -- who composed the "Gonna Fly Now" theme of "Rocky," a track instantly recognizable for its triumphant brass swells -- it's "a story about a story."

From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026

Asked about her voice in an Instagram Q&A last December,, external she said: "Sometimes things happen. I get weird. My throat kind of swells inside sometimes. That's all."

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

Regardless of its exact path, large ocean swells generated by the hurricane were expected to create hazardous conditions along portions of Mexico's southwestern and west-central coastlines in the following days.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

In a few seconds the CrossWave had squirted to its top speed of 55 mph and was skipping across the gentle swells in a blaring, brutalizing ecstasy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

Gigantic swells of water rolled in from the open ocean and started tossing the boat around like a toy.

From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown

At the same time, the need has swelled.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 22, 2026

Under Prigozhin, Wagner has swelled its ranks with captured Central African rebels, men who switched allegiances and are widely known as “Black Russians.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 18, 2026

Hospital birth records swelled after rural insurance began covering deliveries.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026

A separate source in Alamata told the BBC there was a worsening humanitarian crisis in the area, as the town swelled with people fleeing fighting.

From BBC ● Sep. 30, 2026

The red corded vein in Jake’s forehead swelled angrily.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers

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

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease in which cartilage gradually breaks down, leaving joints painful, swollen and increasingly difficult to move.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 6, 2026

The lawyer said medics were "working to save Ms. Pike's life" after she arrived with both arms "swollen, burned, and blistered."

From Barron's ● Oct. 2, 2026

"They'll coax excess lymph fluid from your swollen tissues toward your lymph nodes, where the lymph can reabsorb," he says - adding lymph nodes are found in the armpits, neck and groin.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

Although my eyes were swollen nearly shut, I could see enough to know that Frederick and Bruno were standing over me.

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff

It advises putting something cool, like a clean, damp cloth, on the affected area to help with the itching and any swelling and to keep the affected area clean.

From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2026

This can lead to pain, stiffness, swelling, and difficulty with everyday activities such as walking or climbing stairs.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 28, 2026

Though most people recover, it can cause pneumonia, blindness and swelling in the brain, and erase the immune system’s memory, leading to easily acquired secondary infections.

From Salon ● Oct. 24, 2026

For much of this year, Tesla has also encountered scrutiny over swelling capital spending to fund ambitious programs in artificial intelligence, robotics and autonomous driving.

From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026

He soon found himself haunch-deep in a swelling stream.

From "Abel's Island" by William Steig

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---

Related Words

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

---