1
a
: to propel oneself in water by natural means (such as movements of the limbs, fins, or tail)
b
: to play in the water (as at a beach or swimming pool)
2
: to move with a motion like that of swimming : glide
a cloud swam slowly across the moon
3
a
: to float on a liquid : not sink
b
: to surmount difficulties : not go under
sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish—
Daniel Webster
Daniel Webster4
: to become immersed in or flooded with or as if with a liquid
potatoes swimming in gravy
5
: to have a floating or reeling appearance or sensation
1
a
: to cross by propelling oneself through water
swim a stream
b
: to execute in swimming
2
: to cause to swim or float
1
: a smooth gliding motion
2
: an act or period of swimming
3
: a temporary dizziness or unconsciousness
4
a
: an area frequented by fish
b
: the main current of activity
in the swim
Synonyms
Examples of swim in a Sentence
Verb
He's teaching the children to swim.
She swam across the pool.
He swam the English Channel.
The racers must swim the backstroke.
We watched the fish swimming in the river.
Ducks swam in the pond.
I felt weak and my head was swimming.
The room swam before my eyes.
Noun
the merest glimpse of blood sends him into a swim
Recent Examples on the WebMarina Watts, Peoplemag, 10 Aug. 2024
More than 80% of beach rescues involve rip currents, if you're caught in one, rescuers advise to not panic or try to fight it, but try to float or swim parallel to the coastline to get out of the current.
—Manuel Bojorquez, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2024
Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 11 Aug. 2024
Barrio asked specifically about Cradock, who was both a swim coach and the associate athletic director for aquatics, according to the lawsuit.
—Madeleine O'Neill, Baltimore Sun, 8 Aug. 2024
SELF, 5 Aug. 2024
From fit, lining, waistband, fabric, and occasion, board shorts actually differ from swim trunks in many ways.
—Maverick Li, menshealth.com, 5 May 2023
See all Example Sentences for swim 
Verb
One video shared by Adrienne LeBlanc features a resident narrating an alligator swimming outside their bedroom window.
—Marina Watts, Peoplemag, 10 Aug. 2024
More than 80% of beach rescues involve rip currents, if you're caught in one, rescuers advise to not panic or try to fight it, but try to float or swim parallel to the coastline to get out of the current.
—Manuel Bojorquez, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2024
Noun
So Howley did his own half Ironman around his house in May – a 1.2-mile swim in Lake Williams, a 56-mile bike and a 13.1-mile run – and a full Ironman on his own in Lake Placid later that year.
—Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 11 Aug. 2024
Barrio asked specifically about Cradock, who was both a swim coach and the associate athletic director for aquatics, according to the lawsuit.
—Madeleine O'Neill, Baltimore Sun, 8 Aug. 2024
Adjective
Team Great Britain also mentioned their triathletes would be thoroughly scrubbed down with disinfectant after swimming, another strategy Dr. Sullivan greenlights—and the sooner post-swim, the better.
—SELF, 5 Aug. 2024
From fit, lining, waistband, fabric, and occasion, board shorts actually differ from swim trunks in many ways.
—Maverick Li, menshealth.com, 5 May 2023
See all Example Sentences for swim
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'swim.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Swim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swim. Accessed 20 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
swim
2 of 2 noun1
: an act or period of swimming
2
: the main current of activity
in the swim of things
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