swing

[ swing ]

/ swɪŋ /

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See synonyms for: swing / swinging / swung on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), swung, swing·ing.

to cause to move to and fro, sway, or oscillate, as something suspended from above: to swing one's arms in walking.

to cause to move in alternate directions or in either direction around a fixed point, on an axis, or on a line of support, as a door on hinges.

to move (the hand or something held) with an oscillating or rotary movement: to swing one's fists; to swing a club around one's head.

Aeronautics. to pull or turn (a propeller) by hand, especially in order to start the engine.

to turn in a new direction in a curve, as if around a central point: to swing the car into the driveway.

to suspend so as to hang freely, as a hammock or a door.

Informal. to influence or win over; manage or arrange as desired: to swing votes; to swing a business deal.

to direct, change, or shift (one's interest, opinion, support, etc.).

to turn (a ship or aircraft) to various headings in order to check compass deviation.

verb (used without object), swung, swing·ing.

to move or sway to and fro, as a pendulum or other suspended object.

to move to and fro in a swing, as for recreation.

to move in alternate directions or in either direction around a point, an axis, or a line of support, as a gate on its hinges.

to move in a curve, as around a corner or central point: The highway swings to the east.

to move with a free, swaying motion, as soldiers on the march.

to be suspended so as to hang freely, as a bell or hammock.

to move by grasping a support with the hands and drawing up the arms or using the momentum of the swaying body: a monkey swinging through trees.

to change or shift one's attention, interest, opinion, condition, etc.: He swung from mere indifference to outright scorn.

to hit at someone or something, with the hand or something grasped in the hand: The batter swung and struck out.

Slang.

to be characterized by a modern, lively atmosphere: Las Vegas swings all year.
to be stylish, trendy, hip, etc., especially in pursuing enjoyment.
to engage uninhibitedly in sexual activity.
(of married couples) to exchange partners for sexual activity.

Informal. to suffer death by hanging: He'll swing for the crime.

noun

the act, manner, or progression of swinging; movement in alternate directions or in a particular direction.

the amount or extent of such movement: to correct the swing of a pendulum.

a curving movement or course.

a moving of the body with a free, swaying motion, as in walking.

a blow or stroke with the hand or an object grasped in the hands: His swing drove the ball over the fence.

a change or shift in attitude, opinion, behavior, etc.

a steady, marked rhythm or movement, as of verse or music.

a regular upward or downward movement in the price of a commodity or of a security, or in any business activity.

Informal.

a work period coming between the regular day and night shifts.
a change by a group of workers from working one shift to working another.

freedom of action: to have free swing in carrying out a project.

active operation; progression: to get into the swing of things.

something that is swung or that swings.

a seat suspended from above by means of a loop of rope or between ropes or rods, on which one may sit and swing to and fro for recreation.

the maximum diameter of the work machinable in a certain lathe or other machine tool.

adjective

of or relating to a swing.

capable of determining the outcome, as of an election; deciding, as in swing vote; swing voter.

designed or constructed to permit swinging or hanging.

acting to relieve other workers when needed, as at night.

OTHER WORDS FOR swing

21 sway, vibration, oscillation.

22 range, scope, sweep, play.

See synonyms for swing on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms about swing

in full swing, operating at the highest speed or level of activity; in full operation: Automobile production is in full swing.

swing round the circle, to tour an area on a political campaign.

take a swing at, to strike or attempt to strike with the fist: to take a swing at a rude waiter.

Origin of swing

First recorded before 900; Middle English verb swingen “strike with a weapon, smite,” Old English swingan; cognate with German schwingen

synonym study for swing

10. Swing, sway, oscillate, rock suggest a movement back and forth. Swing expresses the comparatively regular motion to and fro of a body supported from the end or ends, especially from above: A lamp swings from the ceiling. To sway is to swing gently and is used especially of fixed objects or of persons: Young oaks sway in the breeze. Oscillate refers to the smooth, regular, alternating movement of a body within certain limits between two fixed points. Rock indicates the slow and regular movement back and forth of a body, as on curved supports: A cradle rocks.

OTHER WORDS FROM swing

swing·a·ble, adjective

Words nearby swing

swineherd, swine plague, swinepox, swine's cress, swine vesicular disease, swing, swingback, swingbeat, swingboat, swing bridge, swing by

Other definitions for swing (2 of 2)

swing²

[ swing ]

/ swɪŋ /

noun

Also called Big Band music, swing music . a style of jazz, popular especially in the 1930s and often arranged for a large dance band, marked by a smoother beat and more flowing phrasing than Dixieland and having less complex harmonies and rhythms than modern jazz.

the rhythmic element that excites dancers and listeners to move in time to jazz music.

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of swing: a swing record.

verb (used with object), swung, swing·ing.

to play (music) in the style of swing.

Origin of swing

First recorded in 1930–35 as swing band and swing music; special use of swing¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use swing in a sentence

The trend is about the same in the swing states of Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin as nationally.
SurveyMonkey poll: Suburbs and the safety wedge|Margaret Talev|September 17, 2020|Axios
Here are the shifts in each major swing state — defined as the states with more than a 1 percent chance of being the Electoral College tipping point, per the FiveThirtyEight model.
Trump Has Lost His Edge In TV Advertising|Nathaniel Rakich (nathaniel.rakich@fivethirtyeight.com)|September 16, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
This is the fourth in a series of articles examining the politics and demographics of 2020’s expected swing states.
Why Pennsylvania Could Decide The 2020 Election|Nathaniel Rakich (nathaniel.rakich@fivethirtyeight.com)|September 15, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Family members who offered me places to stay live in red or swing states where I’d dread walking into grocery stores packed with people proudly refusing to wear masks.
In defense of California|James Temple|September 4, 2020|MIT Technology Review

Today, the president has traveled to Kenosha, one of the swingiest cities in a swing state poised to decide his fate.
Our nation turns its lonely eyes to Kenosha|Ellen McGirt|September 1, 2020|Fortune
Asian-Americans are a group of persuadable swing voters, growing faster than any other group in America today.
Asian-Americans Are The New Florida|Tim Mak|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Truth is, no one is sure how Cuba will play in the critical swing state of Florida in 2016.
How Will Cuba Play In Peoria?|Eleanor Clift|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Before Fidel, when segregation was in full swing, the Cuban apartheid meant many clubs and parks still refused black Cubans entry.
The Life and Hard Times Of The Family A Cuban Defector Left Behind|Brin-Jonathan Butler|December 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We arrived to the din of a party in full swing: a band, multiple kegs of beer, dancing, foosball, and mantle diving.
I Was Gang Raped at a UVA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything|Liz Seccuro|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Instead, he gives his very best effort and tries to win the World Series with a single swing of his bat.
After Torture Report, Our Moral Authority As a Nation Is Gone|Nick Gillespie|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Those soaring columns held up the very sky, and their foundations made the earth itself swing true.
The Wave|Algernon Blackwood
While a one-step was in full swing some would-be wag suddenly turned off all the lights.
Uncanny Tales|Various
And they have a free wild grace, a stride, a swing—it is wonderful to watch them go up these hills.
Ancestors|Gertrude Atherton
Could the bleating of the sheep swing in sweeter to the music of the valley as she is rocked to sleep?
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
She had to lie in bed all the time; for not long ago she had a bad fall from a swing, and hurt her spine.
The Nursery, January 1873, Vol. XIII.|Various

British Dictionary definitions for swing

swing

/ (swɪŋ) /

verb swings, swinging or swung

to move or cause to move rhythmically to and fro, as a free-hanging object; sway

(intr) to move, walk, etc, with a relaxed and swaying motion

to pivot or cause to pivot, as on a hinge

to move or cause to move in a curvethe car swung around the bend

to move or cause to move by suspending or being suspended

to hang or be hung so as to be able to turn freely

(intr) slang to be hangedhe'll swing for it

to alter or cause to alter habits, a course, etc

(tr) informal to influence or manipulate successfullyI hope he can swing the deal

(tr foll by up) to raise or hoist, esp in a sweeping motion

(intr often foll by at) to hit out or strike (at), esp with a sweeping motion

(tr) to wave (a weapon, etc) in a sweeping motion; flourish

to arrange or play (music) with the rhythmically flexible and compulsive quality associated with jazz

(intr) (of popular music, esp jazz, or of the musicians who play it) to have this quality

slang to be lively and modern

(intr) slang to swap sexual partners in a group, esp habitually

(intr) cricket to bowl (a ball) with swing or (of a ball) to move with a swing

to turn (a ship or aircraft) in order to test compass error

swing both ways slang to enjoy sexual partners of both sexes

swing the lead informal to malinger or make up excuses

noun

the act or manner of swinging or the distance covered while swinginga wide swing

a sweeping stroke or blow

boxing a wide punch from the side similar to but longer than a hook

cricket the lateral movement of a bowled ball through the air

any free-swaying motion

any curving movement; sweep

something that swings or is swung, esp a suspended seat on which a person may sit and swing back and forth

a kind of popular dance music influenced by jazz, usually played by big bands and originating in the 1930s
(as modifier)swing music

See swingbeat

prosody a steady distinct rhythm or cadence in prose or verse

informal the normal round or paceget into the swing of things

a fluctuation, as in some business activity, voting pattern etc
(as modifier) able to bring about a swing in a voting patternswing party
(as modifier) having a mixed voting history, and thus becoming a target for political election campaignersa swing state

US informal free scope; freedom of activity

mainly US a circular tour

Canadian a tour of a particular area or region

Canadian (in the North) a train of freight sleighs or canoes

go with a swing to go well; be successful

in full swing at the height of activity

swings and roundabouts equal advantages and disadvantages

Word Origin for swing

Old English swingan; related to Old Frisian swinga, Old High German swingan

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

Cultural definitions for swing

swing

A kind of jazz generally played by a “Big Band” and characterized by a lively rhythm suitable for dancing. The bands of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Glenn Miller played swing.

Other Idioms and Phrases with swing

swing

In addition to the idiom beginning with swing

swing into action

also see:

get into the swing of things
in full swing
not enough room to swing a car

swing

OTHER WORDS FOR swing

Idioms about swing

Origin of swing

synonym study for swing

OTHER WORDS FROM swing

Words nearby swing

Other definitions for swing (2 of 2)

Origin of swing

Words related to swing

How to use swing in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for swing

Word Origin for swing

Cultural definitions for swing

Other Idioms and Phrases with swing