- present participle of swell.
noun
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the act of expansion or inflation
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the state of being or becoming swollen
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a swollen or inflated part or area
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an abnormal enlargement of a bodily structure or part, esp as the result of injury
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of swelling
First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; swell + -ing 1
Vocabulary lists containing swelling
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And, at every step of the tournament, they would have the swelling support of playing on home soil.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 7, 2026
BIS is also concerned about risks linked to the swelling role of non-bank players like hedge funds in bond markets and in AI investments, and is calling for more oversight over such operations.
From Barron's • Jun. 28, 2026
A review revealed a varicocele - a swelling of veins in the scrotum that can affect sperm quality.
From BBC • Jun. 26, 2026
When inhaled, these microscopic particles can enter the lungs and bloodstream, potentially causing swelling and inflammation.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 25, 2026
“The cloud was swelling into a mushroom, looking like an atom bomb had gone off,” Barry remembered.
From "Mountain of Fire" by Rebecca E. F. Barone
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
