[ swim ]
/ swɪm /

verb (used without object), swam, swum, swim·ming.

verb (used with object), swam, swum, swim·ming.


an act, instance, or period of swimming.
a motion as of swimming; a smooth, gliding movement.

Nearby words

  1. swiftie,
  2. swiftlet,
  3. swig,
  4. swiler,
  5. swill,
  6. swim against the current,
  7. swim bladder,
  8. swim fin,
  9. swim mask,
  10. swim with the tide


    in the swim, alert to or actively engaged in events; in the thick of things: Despite her age, she is still in the swim.

Origin of swim

before 900; Middle English swimmen, Old English swimman; cognate with Dutch zwemmen, German schwimmen, Old Norse svimma

Related formsswim·ma·ble, adjectiveswim·mer, nounnon·swim·mer, nounout·swim, verb, out·swam, out·swum, out·swim·ming.


Examples from the Web for swim

British Dictionary definitions for swim


/ (swɪm) /

verb swims, swimming, swam or swum


Derived Formsswimmable, adjectiveswimmer, nounswimming, noun, adjective

Word Origin for swim

Old English swimman; related to Old Norse svima, German schwimmen, Gothic swumsl pond, Norwegian svamla to paddle


Idioms and Phrases with swim


In addition to the idioms beginning with swim

  • swim against the current
  • swim with the tide

also see:

  • in the swim
  • sink or swim