swell

[ swel ]

/ swɛl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR swell ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), swelled, swol·len or swelled, swell·ing.

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

Pathology. to increase abnormally in size, as by inflation, distention, accumulation of fluids, or the like: Her ankles swelled from standing.

to rise in waves, as the sea.

to well up, as a spring or as tears.

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

to grow in amount, degree, force, etc.

to increase gradually in volume or intensity, as sound: The music swelled.

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

to become puffed up with pride.

verb (used with object), swelled, swol·len or swelled, swell·ing.

to cause to grow in bulk.

to cause to increase gradually in loudness: to swell a musical tone.

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

to increase in amount, degree, force, etc.

to affect with a strong, expansive emotion.

to puff up with pride.

noun

the act of swelling or the condition of being swollen.

inflation or distention.

a protuberant part.

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

a gradually rising elevation of the land.

an increase in amount, degree, force, etc.

a gradual increase in loudness of sound.

Music.

a gradual increase (crescendo) followed by a gradual decrease (diminuendo) in loudness or force of musical sound.
the sign (< >) for indicating this.
a device, as in an organ, by which the loudness of tones may be varied.

a swelling of emotion within one.

Slang.

a fashionably dressed person; dandy.
a socially prominent person.

adjective Informal.

(of things) stylish; elegant: a swell hotel.

(of persons) fashionably dressed or socially prominent.

first-rate; fine: a swell party.

Nearby words

Origin of swell

before 900; Middle English swellen (v.), Old English swellan; cognate with Dutch zwellen, German schwellen, Old Norse svella; akin to Gothic ufswalleins pride

SYNONYMS FOR swell

1 distend, expand.

5 protrude.

10 inflate, expand.

17 swelling.

18 bulge.

19 billow.

27, 28 grand.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR swell ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR swell

1 contract.

13 decrease, diminish.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR swell ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsre·swell, verb, re·swelled, re·swelled or re·swol·len, re·swell·ing.un·der·swell, verb (used without object), un·der·swelled, un·der·swelled or un·der·swol·len, un·der·swell·ing.un·der·swell, nounun·swelled, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for swell

It stands to reason the controversy will swell after the release.
Kirk Cameron Saves Christmas from Abominable Killjoys (Other Christians)|Brandy Zadrozny|November 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“It would be a swell joke on tout-le-monde if you & Fife & I spent the summer at Juan-les-Pins,” she wrote.
The Perils of Being a Hemingway Wife|Nico Hines|February 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And so the deficit can swell very rapidly during a recession.
This Is the Golden Age of Deficit Reduction|Daniel Gross|December 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
An airy acoustic guitar begins to strum; a synthesized orchestra begins to swell.
‘Reflektor’ Makes Arcade Fire the Biggest Band in the World|Andrew Romano|October 29, 2013|DAILY BEAST

The sidewalks continued to swell with busy people, hell bent on getting to important places.
Writers on Their Difficult—And Not So Difficult—Break-Ups with New York City||October 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The machinery has now been added to, and the result will certainly go to swell these figures considerably more in the near future.
Uruguay|W. H. Koebel
Already a breeze ruffled the surface of the water, and the swell appeared to increase rather than go down.
The Phantom Ship|Frederick Marryat
The sensation that a ship gives a passenger when it dips after a swell returned, but it quickly passed.
The Guns of Europe|Joseph A. Altsheler
The swell had fallen; but the sea breathes and lives even in its sleep.
The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 15, No. 87, January, 1865|Various
"That was swell of you, Bruce," she said, with an admiring smile.
Bruce of the Circle A|Harold Titus

British Dictionary definitions for swell

swell

/ (swɛl) /

verb swells, swelling, swelled, swollen or swelled

to grow or cause to grow in size, esp as a result of internal pressureCompare contract (def. 1), contract (def. 3)

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

to grow or cause to grow in size, amount, intensity, or degreethe party is swelling with new recruits

to puff or be puffed up with pride or another emotion

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

(intr) to well up or overflow

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

noun

the undulating movement of the surface of the open sea
a succession of waves or a single large wave

a swelling or being swollen; expansion

an increase in quantity or degree; inflation

a bulge; protuberance

a gentle hill

informal a person very fashionably dressed

informal a man of high social or political standing

music a crescendo followed by an immediate diminuendo

Also called: swell organ music

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
the manual on an organ controlling thisCompare choir (def. 4), great (def. 21)

adjective

informal stylish or grand

slang excellent; first-class

Word Origin for swell

Old English swellan; related to Old Norse svella, Old Frisian swella, German schwellen

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for swell (1 of 2)

swell

Old English swellan "grow or make bigger" (past tense sweall, past participle swollen), from Proto-Germanic *swelnanan (cf. Old Saxon swellan, Old Norse svella, Old Frisian swella, Middle Dutch swellen, Dutch zwellen, Old High German swellan, German schwellen), of unknown origin.

Word Origin and History for swell (1 of 2)

swell

early 13c., "a morbid swelling," from swell (v.). In reference to a rise of the sea, it is attested from c.1600. The meaning "wealthy, elegant person" is first recorded 1786; hence the adjectival meaning "fashionably dressed or equipped" (1810), both from the notion of "puffed-up, pompous" behavior. The sense of "good, excellent" first occurs 1897, and as a stand-alone expression of satisfaction it is recorded from 1930 in American English.

swell

verb (used without object), swelled, swol·len or swelled, swell·ing.

verb (used with object), swelled, swol·len or swelled, swell·ing.

noun

adjective Informal.

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of swell

Examples from the Web for swell

British Dictionary definitions for swell

swell

verb swells, swelling, swelled, swollen or swelled

noun

adjective

Word Origin for swell

Word Origin and History for swell (1 of 2)

swell

Word Origin and History for swell (1 of 2)

swell