swim

American  

[swim] / swɪm /

verb (used without object)

swam, swum, swimming

1. to move in water by movements of the limbs, fins, tail, etc.

2. to float on the surface of water or some other liquid.

3. to move, rest, or be suspended in air as if swimming in water.

4. to move, glide, or go smoothly over a surface.

5. to be immersed or steeped in or overflowing or flooded with a liquid.

   eyes swimming with tears.

6. to be dizzy or giddy; seem to whirl.

   My head began to swim.

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verb (used with object)

swam, swum, swimming

1. to move along in or cross (a body of water) by swimming.

   to swim a lake.

2. to perform (a particular stroke) in swimming.

   to swim a sidestroke.

3. to cause to swim or float, as on a stream.

4. to furnish with sufficient water to swim or float.

noun

1. an act, instance, or period of swimming.

2. a motion as of swimming; a smooth, gliding movement.

idioms

1. in the swim, alert to or actively engaged in events; in the thick of things.

   Despite her age, she is still in the swim.

swim British  

/ swɪm /

verb

1. (intr) to move along in water, etc, by means of movements of the body or parts of the body, esp the arms and legs, or (in the case of fish) tail and fins

2. (tr) to cover (a distance or stretch of water) in this way

3. (tr) to compete in (a race) in this way

4. (intr) to be supported by and on a liquid; float

5. (tr) to use (a particular stroke) in swimming

6. (intr) to move smoothly, usually through air or over a surface

7. (intr) to reel or seem to reel

   my head swam

   the room swam around me

8. (intr; often foll by in or with) to be covered or flooded with water or other liquid

9. to be liberally supplied (with)

   he's swimming in money

10. (tr) to cause to float or swim

11. (tr) to provide (something) with water deep enough to float in

12. to resist prevailing opinion

13. to conform to prevailing opinion

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noun

1. the act, an instance, or period of swimming

2. any graceful gliding motion

3. a condition of dizziness; swoon

4. a pool in a river good for fishing

5. informal fashionable or active in social or political activities

swim More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing swim

• in the swim
• sink or swim

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Other Word Forms

• nonswimmer noun
• outswim verb
• swimmable adjective
• swimmer noun
• swimming noun

Etymology

Origin of swim

First recorded before 900; Middle English swimmen, Old English swimman; cognate with Dutch zwemmen, German schwimmen, Old Norse svimma

Explanation

When you move yourself through the water using your arms and legs, you swim. If you live near the ocean, it's probably a good idea to learn how to swim. You might decide to swim across the English Channel, or, if you're a little less adventurous, just swim in your town's swimming pool. When things appear to be submerged as if underwater, they swim too: "I like it when the mashed potatoes swim in gravy." And when something appears fuzzy or whirling, it also seems to swim: "I was so tired the equations on the chalkboard began to swim." The root of swim means "to be in motion."

Example Sentences

It suggests that the crypto whale is about to swim back into the market and buy Bitcoin again..

From Barron's • Apr. 6, 2026

Last year, a couple of 2-year-old males returned to swim up the Sacramento River.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026

I go for a swim at Chelsea Piers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Secular and Christian popular culture swim in opposing halves of divided entertainment waters, despite broadcast TV’s lengthy history of featuring Christian-leaning shows.

From Salon • Mar. 29, 2026

He turned around and struck for the surface, but he could barely swim for the urge to breathe.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Related Words

• bathe
• crawl
• dive
• float
• glide
• paddle
• submerge
• wade