swimming

[ swim-ing ]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that swims.
2. the skill or technique of a person who swims.
3. the sport of swimming.

adjective

1. pertaining to, characterized by, or capable of swimming.
2. used in or for swimming:

   swimming trunks.

3. immersed in or overflowing with water or some other liquid.
4. dizzy or giddy:

   a swimming head.

Other Words From

• swimming·ness noun
• non·swimming adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of swimming¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English swimmende (adjective). See swim, -ing ², -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Depending on your skill level, riding a SUP in the whitewater may turn out to be half paddling and half swimming, so in terms of keeping cool, it was worth bringing along.

From Outside Online

For example, if you’re a hot tub retailer some of your best links would come from local businesses that sell swimming pools.

From Search Engine Watch

Using automated tracking of swimming sperm and mathematical analyses of position data, Gadêlha and colleagues broke sperm tail movement down into two components.

From Science News

It’s like someone swimming using just one side of the body, Gadêlha says.

From Science News

Earth’s atmosphere refracts radio waves that pass through it, so LOFAR views the cosmos as if from the bottom of a swimming pool.

From Quanta Magazine

Marvin takes off his T-shirt and dives into his swimming pool.

From The Daily Beast

Just who is crazy enough to go swimming when the pond across the street has a layer of ice across the top?

From The Daily Beast

Obviously, Dominic West can carry on swimming as much as he likes.

From The Daily Beast

His swimming led him back to meet the woman he had gently smiled at in the first episode.

From The Daily Beast

One of the three, Ralph Goodwin, is said to have drowned while swimming at a beach outside Havana.

From The Daily Beast

She threw out her arms as if swimming when she walked, beating the tall grass as one strikes out in the water.

From Project Gutenberg

She spent much of her time in the water since she had acquired finally the art of swimming.

From Project Gutenberg

Charles Lamb once, while riding in company with a lady, descried a party denuded for swimming a little way off.

From Project Gutenberg

"I wonder if we couldn't fix up a regular swimming pool," he said, half to himself.

From Project Gutenberg

My guide caught hold of me by the hand whenever we passed a dangerous spot, and dragged me, often half swimming, after him.

From Project Gutenberg