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.

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noun

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

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noun

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

Other Word Forms

• swingingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of swinging

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

Example Sentences

Note that being open to lesser-known companies doesn’t necessarily mean swinging to the other extreme and joining a new venture.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 21, 2026

Gen. Ken Paxton released an ad depicting two of his opponents for a Senate seat — Republican Sen. John Cornyn and Democratic Rep. Jasmine Crockett — waltzing and swinging.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

But now attention is swinging back to the main brain of data-center computing, the CPU.

From Barron's • May 8, 2026

EV drivers aren’t entirely immune from swinging gas prices, either.

From MarketWatch • May 2, 2026

Next thing I knew, I was hanging off the edge of the porch roof, swinging in the air above the front steps.

From "Fourth Grade Rats" by Jerry Spinelli

Related Words

• fluctuating