swell
verb (used without object)
to grow in bulk, as by the absorption of moisture or the processes of growth.
was swelling
-
past progressiveof swell.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"My mouth was swelling up, my airways started closing up and I felt very nauseous," she said.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
A 2023 study by Nishimura and colleagues found the land above the swarm had risen by 70 millimeters, suggesting upwelling fluid was swelling the crust at a depth of about 16 kilometers.
From Science Magazine ● Jan. 8, 2024
There was swelling in his trachea and at the back of his throat, according to the report.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 14, 2022
In 2017, as the number of homeless people in the city was swelling, the group sought to expand from domestic violence services to running other types of shelters.
From New York Times ● Feb. 28, 2022
It was eerie, spine-tingling, unearthly; it lifted the hair on Harry’s scalp and made his heart feel as though it was swelling to twice its normal size.
From "Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets" by J. K. Rowling
