swell

[ swel ]

/ swɛl /

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See synonyms for: swell / swelled / swelling / swollen 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR swell

1 distend, expand.

5 protrude.

10 inflate, expand.

17 swelling.

18 bulge.

19 billow.

27, 28 grand.

See synonyms for swell on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR swell

1 contract.

13 decrease, diminish.

See antonyms for swell on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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

OTHER WORDS FROM swell

re·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. 2023

How to use swell in a sentence

Thereafter, the 1960s swelled with political zeal and social unrest.
A History of Paris in 150 Photographs|Sarah Moroz|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The crowd of journalists that has swelled to its largest number.
Ferguson on Edge Again as Night Falls|Justin Glawe|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The crowd of journalists that had swelled to its largest number.
An Uneasy Peace Falls on Ferguson after Local Cops Called Off|Justin Glawe|August 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In recent weeks, the size of these groups has swelled to up to 100.
Hundreds of Immigrants Are Rushing the Border Just to Get Caught|Caitlin Dickson|July 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The number who feel lower class has swelled from 25% in 2008 to an almost doubled 49% in 2014 according to CNN.
Is Crowdsourced Labor the Future of Middle Class Employment?|Sarah Kunst|March 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Our class has swelled to about a dozen persons now, and a good many others come and play to him once or twice and then go.
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay
The improvement of transport still further swelled the volume of production.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice|Stephen Leacock
Railway expectations ran high; immense traffic receipts, sorely needed, ought to have swelled the coffers of the companies.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
Other writers suffered from that complaint known as "swelled head," but Walter Fetherston never.
The Doctor of Pimlico|William Le Queux
The deep, dull murmurings of the multitude swelled in unison with the sighings of the storm rising upon the somber night.
Madame Roland, Makers of History|John S. C. Abbott

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

swell

OTHER WORDS FOR swell

OPPOSITES FOR swell

Origin of swell

OTHER WORDS FROM swell

Words related to swell

How to use swell in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for swell

Word Origin for swell