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

During a strike, she said, she would carefully explain to her daughter — a 7-year-old with long, braided hair and a Labubu plush toy swinging from her red backpack — what the teachers were demanding.

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

The firm reported a statutory pre-tax profit of £8.3m in the year to September, swinging from a £16.2m pre-tax loss a year earlier.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2026

The girl gave a happy yelp, not unlike a fox kit, and they carried on down the road, hand in hand, swinging their filthy prize and sack of rubbish all the way.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Related Words

• fluctuating