swollen

[swoh-luhn]

verb

1. a past participle of swell.

adjective

1. enlarged by or as by swelling; swelling; puffed up; tumid.

2. turgid or bombastic.

swollen

/ ˈswəʊlən /

verb

1. a past participle of swell

adjective

1. tumid or enlarged by or as if by swelling

2. turgid or bombastic

Other Word Forms

• swollenly adverb
• swollenness noun
• unswollen adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of swollen¹

First recorded in 1300–50, for the adjective

Example Sentences

The pea-sized lump had got larger, and her breast was red and swollen.

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The old woman’s knuckles were so swollen with arthritis, Penelope wondered if she could even remove the large jeweled rings she wore on each finger, or whether she would have to be buried in them.

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These obligations have swollen beyond petty annoyance into their own distinct sphere of activity, neither work nor not-work.

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Bubonic plague is the most common type of plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, characterised by swollen lymph nodes called "buboes".

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"If your gums are bleeding or swollen it's a sign you need to brush better," he says.

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Related Words

• bloated 
• inflamed www.thesaurus.com
• inflated