swimming

American  

[swim-ing] / ˈswɪm ɪŋ /

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.

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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 Word Forms

Derived Forms

• swimmingness
  noun
• nonswimming
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of swimming

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

Explanation

Swimming is an activity that involves moving through the water using your arms and legs. One of the best ways to cool off on a hot summer day is swimming in a cold lake or pool. Swimming is both a casual activity and a serious sport. To you, swimming may involve splashing through the waves or dog-paddling across a public pool. Olympic athletes, on the other hand, swim distances as far as 1500 meters at unbelievable speeds. As an adjective, swimming describes anything that swims or that's used for swimming, like a swimming hole. You can also poetically describe a crying person's eyes as "swimming with tears."

Example Sentences

It was also seen swimming in a river, and climbing over fences across backyards.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

Sports began for me early, after I saw a photo of my dad boxing in the Navy during World War II. I played all sports—football, basketball, baseball, track and swimming.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

At a nearby beach resort, a high-speed Coast Guard vessel plied the waters for two people still missing after swimming in waters that churned violently as the quake struck.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

This organism can cause a rare but extremely deadly brain infection when contaminated water enters the nose, often during swimming or other recreational water activities.

From Science Daily • Jun. 6, 2026

“Move,” I scream, dropping the harness, swimming, sliding onto Belle’s back.

From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes