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swung

[swuhng]
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verb
  1. simple past tense and past participle of swing1.
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Related formsun·swung, adjective

swing1

[swing]
verb (used with object), swung, swing·ing.
  1. to cause to move to and fro, sway, or oscillate, as something suspended from above: to swing one's arms in walking.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. Aeronautics. to pull or turn (a propeller) by hand, especially in order to start the engine.
  5. to turn in a new direction in a curve, as if around a central point: to swing the car into the driveway.
  6. to suspend so as to hang freely, as a hammock or a door.
  7. Informal. to influence or win over; manage or arrange as desired: to swing votes; to swing a business deal.
  8. to direct, change, or shift (one's interest, opinion, support, etc.).
  9. to turn (a ship or aircraft) to various headings in order to check compass deviation.
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verb (used without object), swung, swing·ing.
  1. to move or sway to and fro, as a pendulum or other suspended object.
  2. to move to and fro in a swing, as for recreation.
  3. 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.
  4. to move in a curve, as around a corner or central point: The highway swings to the east.
  5. to move with a free, swaying motion, as soldiers on the march.
  6. to be suspended so as to hang freely, as a bell or hammock.
  7. 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.
  8. to change or shift one's attention, interest, opinion, condition, etc.: He swung from mere indifference to outright scorn.
  9. to hit at someone or something, with the hand or something grasped in the hand: The batter swung and struck out.
  10. Slang.
    1. to be characterized by a modern, lively atmosphere: Las Vegas swings all year.
    2. to be stylish, trendy, hip, etc., especially in pursuing enjoyment.
    3. to engage uninhibitedly in sexual activity.
    4. (of married couples) to exchange partners for sexual activity.
  11. Informal. to suffer death by hanging: He'll swing for the crime.
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noun
  1. the act, manner, or progression of swinging; movement in alternate directions or in a particular direction.
  2. the amount or extent of such movement: to correct the swing of a pendulum.
  3. a curving movement or course.
  4. a moving of the body with a free, swaying motion, as in walking.
  5. a blow or stroke with the hand or an object grasped in the hands: His swing drove the ball over the fence.
  6. a change or shift in attitude, opinion, behavior, etc.
  7. a steady, marked rhythm or movement, as of verse or music.
  8. a regular upward or downward movement in the price of a commodity or of a security, or in any business activity.
  9. Informal.
    1. a work period coming between the regular day and night shifts.
    2. a change by a group of workers from working one shift to working another.
  10. freedom of action: to have free swing in carrying out a project.
  11. active operation; progression: to get into the swing of things.
  12. something that is swung or that swings.
  13. 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.
  14. the maximum diameter of the work machinable in a certain lathe or other machine tool.
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adjective
  1. of or relating to a swing.
  2. capable of determining the outcome, as of an election; deciding, as in swing vote; swing voter.
  3. designed or constructed to permit swinging or hanging.
  4. acting to relieve other workers when needed, as at night.
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Idioms
  1. in full swing, operating at the highest speed or level of activity; in full operation: Automobile production is in full swing.
  2. swing round the circle, to tour an area on a political campaign.
  3. take a swing at, to strike or attempt to strike with the fist: to take a swing at a rude waiter.
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Origin of swing1

before 900; Middle English swingen (verb), Old English swingan; cognate with German schwingen
Related formsswing·a·ble, adjective

Synonyms

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21. sway, vibration, oscillation. 22. range, scope, sweep, play.

Synonym study

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.

swing2

[swing]
noun
  1. 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.
  2. the rhythmic element that excites dancers and listeners to move in time to jazz music.
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adjective
  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of swing: a swing record.
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verb (used with object), swung, swing·ing.
  1. to play (music) in the style of swing.
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Origin of swing2

special use of swing1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

whirl, swivel, rotate, wiggle, veer, twirl, fluctuate, dangle, hang, lurch, wave, turn, pitch, pivot, wobble, sway, curve, flap, wheel, sheer

Examples from the Web for swung

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • As the train started he swung himself off with a sad little "Be good to yourself!"

    The Spenders

    Harry Leon Wilson

  • He swung from the stirrups and went lightly up the front steps.

  • My "job" could not be "swung" by anyone else, since everyone else is essential to the swinging of his own.

  • Burke swung himself around in a movement of complete disgust.

    Within the Law

    Marvin Dana

  • He swung about to face the father, and there was a complete change in his manner.

    Within the Law

    Marvin Dana

British Dictionary definitions for swung

swung

verb
  1. the past tense and past participle of swing
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swing

verb swings, swinging or swung
  1. to move or cause to move rhythmically to and fro, as a free-hanging object; sway
  2. (intr) to move, walk, etc, with a relaxed and swaying motion
  3. to pivot or cause to pivot, as on a hinge
  4. to move or cause to move in a curvethe car swung around the bend
  5. to move or cause to move by suspending or being suspended
  6. to hang or be hung so as to be able to turn freely
  7. (intr) slang to be hangedhe'll swing for it
  8. to alter or cause to alter habits, a course, etc
  9. (tr) informal to influence or manipulate successfullyI hope he can swing the deal
  10. (tr foll by up) to raise or hoist, esp in a sweeping motion
  11. (intr often foll by at) to hit out or strike (at), esp with a sweeping motion
  12. (tr) to wave (a weapon, etc) in a sweeping motion; flourish
  13. to arrange or play (music) with the rhythmically flexible and compulsive quality associated with jazz
  14. (intr) (of popular music, esp jazz, or of the musicians who play it) to have this quality
  15. slang to be lively and modern
  16. (intr) slang to swap sexual partners in a group, esp habitually
  17. (intr) cricket to bowl (a ball) with swing or (of a ball) to move with a swing
  18. to turn (a ship or aircraft) in order to test compass error
  19. swing both ways slang to enjoy sexual partners of both sexes
  20. swing the lead informal to malinger or make up excuses
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noun
  1. the act or manner of swinging or the distance covered while swinginga wide swing
  2. a sweeping stroke or blow
  3. boxing a wide punch from the side similar to but longer than a hook
  4. cricket the lateral movement of a bowled ball through the air
  5. any free-swaying motion
  6. any curving movement; sweep
  7. something that swings or is swung, esp a suspended seat on which a person may sit and swing back and forth
    1. a kind of popular dance music influenced by jazz, usually played by big bands and originating in the 1930s
    2. (as modifier)swing music
  9. See swingbeat
  10. prosody a steady distinct rhythm or cadence in prose or verse
  11. informal the normal round or paceget into the swing of things
    1. a fluctuation, as in some business activity, voting pattern etc
    2. (as modifier)able to bring about a swing in a voting patternswing party
    3. (as modifier)having a mixed voting history, and thus becoming a target for political election campaignersa swing state
  13. US informal free scope; freedom of activity
  14. mainly US a circular tour
  15. Canadian a tour of a particular area or region
  16. Canadian (in the North) a train of freight sleighs or canoes
  17. go with a swing to go well; be successful
  18. in full swing at the height of activity
  19. swings and roundabouts equal advantages and disadvantages
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Word Origin

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

Word Origin and History for swung

swing

v.

Old English swingan "to rush, fling oneself," from Proto-Germanic *swenganan (cf. Old Saxon, Old High German swingan, Old Frisian swinga, German schwingen "to swing, swingle, oscillate") denoting "violent circulatory motion." The meaning "move freely back and forth" is first recorded 1540s. Related: Swung; swinging. Swing shift first recorded 1941, typically 4 p.m. to midnight.

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swing

n.

late 14c., "a stroke with a weapon," from swing (v.). Sense of "an apparatus that swings" is first recorded 1680s. Meaning "shift of public opinion" is from 1899. The meaning "variety of big dance-band music with a swinging rhythm" is first recorded 1933, though the sense has been traced back to 1888; its heyday was from mid-30s to mid-40s. Phrase in full swing "in total effect or operation" (1560s) probably is from bell-ringing.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
swung in Culture

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.

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The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Idioms and Phrases with swung

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
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The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.