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Synonyms

swelling

American  
[swel-ing] / ˈswɛl ɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act of a person or thing that swells.

  2. the condition of being or becoming swollen. swollen.

  3. a swollen swollen part; a protuberance or prominence.

  4. Pathology. an abnormal enlargement or protuberance, as that resulting from edema.

swelling British  
/ ˈswɛlɪŋ /

noun

  1. the act of expansion or inflation

  2. the state of being or becoming swollen

  3. a swollen or inflated part or area

  4. an abnormal enlargement of a bodily structure or part, esp as the result of injury

"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

Other Word Forms

  • unswelling adjective

Etymology

Origin of swelling

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; swell + -ing 1

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.

In detention, Flores said, she began to suffer a painful swelling, which she believed could have been mastitis brought on by her inability to nurse her baby.

From Salon • Mar. 24, 2026

He then missed the second Test with swelling in the knee and was subsequently ruled out of the tour.

From BBC • Mar. 13, 2026

Visitors seeking a break from the swelling crowds at Frieze should make a stop at Post-Fair, located just a few miles away at an old Santa Monica post office.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

“That’s why I recommend breathable fabrics, compression socks if you’re prone to swelling, and always layers,” he said.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 26, 2026

His foot felt numb, and he realized that the foot must be swelling fast.

From "Stardust" by Neil Gaiman

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.