swinging

American  

[swing-ing] / ˈswɪŋ ɪŋ /

adjective

• swingingest
  superlative

1. characterized by or capable of swinging, being swung, or causing to swing.

2. intended for swinging upon, by, from, or in.

   the swinging devices in a playground.

3. Slang. excellent; first-rate.

4. Slang. lively, active, and modern; hip.

5. Slang.

   1. free and uninhibited sexually.

      a swinging bachelor.

   2. exchanging spouses for sex.

      swinging married couples.

---

noun

• swingings
  plural

1. the activity or act of a person who swings.

2. Slang.

   1. the act or practice of being free and uninhibited sexually.

   2. the exchanging of spouses for sex.

swinging British  

/ ˈswɪŋɪŋ /

adjective

1. moving rhythmically to and fro

2. slang modern and lively

---

noun

1. slang the practice of swapping sexual partners in a group, esp habitually

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• swingingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• swingings
  plural

Adjectives

• swingingest
  superlative

Etymology

Origin of swinging

First recorded in 1550–60; swing ¹ + -ing ²

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

swinging swingings swingingest

Roberts said then that he’d been given no indication that swinging the bat was affecting Ohtani, but if that changed, the manager would have no problem with sitting the superstar.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026

Hitting wonks have long espoused the importance of swinging faster—the concept seems almost obvious—but the idea of prioritizing it burst into the mainstream in 2024 when MLB began publicly releasing bat speed data.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

Internet users have proven they’ll make a habit of swinging by these fledgling new spaces — if the conversation is interesting enough.

From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026

But for a club accused of swinging too drastically from one approach to another season on season, there seems to be coherence between coach, tactics and players targeted this time.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2026

I turn around to see the Obayifo swinging downward.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

He peeped in, and between the swingings caught glimpses of little blue and yellow flowers arranged in tight bunches in hanging vases.

From The Little House in the Fairy Wood by Ethel Cook Eliot

But she began to swing heavily, with deep, slow swingings.

From Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan Second Series by Lafcadio Hearn

In a considerable shock the successive diminishing swingings amount to dozens before they become so slight as to elude perception.

From Outlines of the Earth's History A Popular Study in Physiography by Nathaniel Southgate Shaler

But all oscillations are equalized by swingings to the other side.

From Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great - Volume 02 Little Journeys To the Homes of Famous Women by Elbert Hubbard

There are stationary swingings, as well as swingings of the kind to which I just alluded.

From Dr. Scudder's Tales for Little Readers, About the Heathen. by Dr. John Scudder

Occasionally, a happy song acquires a little reverse teen feel: My name is Oliver Cool I'm the most swingingest boy in school, but the most trustworthy bets are exploration of the lower reaches of emotions.

From Time Magazine Archive

Basie collected a new full-size outfit 16 months ago, bounced back with a reputation as the swingingest band in the land.

From Time Magazine Archive

These days one of the swingingest places in the Mauritanian capital of Nouakchott is the Chinese cultural mission, which features French movies instead of propaganda films.

From Time Magazine Archive

Then, after four years' touring with a small combo, Basie collected a new 16-piece ensemble in 1952, and within a year it was fully established as the swingingest band in the land.

From Time Magazine Archive

The answer is partly that blues are big these days, partly that Johnny Winter is the swingingest, funkiest new white blues singer to come out of the South in years.

From Time Magazine Archive

Related Words

• fluctuating