swinging

American  

[swing-ing] / ˈswɪŋ ɪŋ /

adjective

superlative

swingingest

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

“I’ve always had the ability to go on these runs ... but it’s staying aggressive. My little mantra today was keep swinging, and keep swinging hard at it.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Hansen then described the translunar injection burn -- a maneuver that brought Orion within 200 kilometers of Earth before swinging around onto a new course for the Moon.

From Barron's • Apr. 4, 2026

Rodrigo announced the news by wiping her Instagram feed and sharing a photo of the album cover, which shows her swinging upside down in a baby pink dress.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026

Leaning against a wall near a news-stand in central Rome, Tommaso Silvestri, 65, scans the morning's front pages, their headlines swinging between "apocalypse," "scandal" and "disaster" after Italy's latest footballing collapse.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

She came down the stairs like it was a catwalk, her shiny aquamarine bob swinging as her gold-trimmed heels click-clacked toward them.

From "Witchlings" by Claribel A. Ortega

Related Words

• fluctuating