swim
verb
\ ˈswim
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swam\ ˈswam
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swum\ ˈswəm
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swimming
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swum\ ˈswəm
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swimming
Definition of swim
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a
: 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
3a
: 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
4
: 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
1a
: to cross by propelling oneself through water
swim a stream
b
: to execute in swimming
2
: to cause to swim or float
swim
nounDefinition of swim (Entry 2 of 3)
1
: a smooth gliding motion
2
: an act or period of swimming
3
: a temporary dizziness or unconsciousness
4a
: an area frequented by fish
b
: the main current of activity
in the swim
swim
adjectiveDefinition of swim (Entry 3 of 3)
: of, relating to, or used in or for swimming
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Synonyms for swim
Synonyms: Verb
Synonyms: Noun
blackout, faint, insensibility, knockout, swoon, syncope
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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 Web: Verb
The captain and four crew members awake on the upper decks jumped off the front of the vessel, swam to an inflatable boat at the back and steered it to a ship anchored nearby. — Stefanie Dazio, Anchorage Daily News, "Flames blocked escape for 34 divers on boat, officials say," 4 Sep. 2019 Snake River sockeye salmon, which swim up the Columbia and reproduce in high-elevation Idaho lakes, teetered on extinction for several years before an elaborate hatchery program involving Fish and Game was created. — Keith Ridler, The Seattle Times, "New plan targets salmon-eating sea lions in Columbia River," 2 Sep. 2019 Her two friends were able to swim to shallow water and get onto shore on Wells Island. — oregonlive, "Vancouver woman missing after float tube overturns on Willamette River in Polk County," 1 Sep. 2019 However, swimming in groups and avoiding the water at dawn and dusk can reduce your risk of encountering sharks, friendly or not. — Samantha Yadron, Outside Online, "Sharks Swim Near Humans a Lot More than You Think," 28 Aug. 2019 This particular day wouldn’t be filled with friends, playgrounds, snack time, naps, and swimming lessons. — Ian Fields, SELF, "My Mother Died of Cervical Cancer. Now I’m an HPV Vaccine Advocate.," 26 Aug. 2019 On July 24, Kristof Milak of Hungary captured the 200-meter butterfly race at the world swimming championships in Gwangju, South Korea. — Edward Lee, baltimoresun.com, "Michael Phelps is living his best life: 5 takeaways from NYT interview in Arizona," 20 Aug. 2019 The 30-year-old recently earned silver in the 4×100-meter medley relay at the world swimming championships in Gwangju, South Korea. — Luis Andres Henao, The Denver Post, "Nathan Adrian: Life before Olympic swimming gold as he fights cancer," 5 Aug. 2019 Gyarfas, for example, was present at the world swimming championships in South Korea which ended Sunday. — Washington Post, "Hungarian swim federation ex-chief indicted in 1998 murder," 30 July 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Ten years ago, Applegarth found herself alongside a group of novice adults learning to swim strongly enough to plunge into Swim Across America-Baltimore’s 1-mile bay swim. — Elizabeth Heubeck, baltimoresun.com, "Rising Hereford High junior takes plunge: From competitive swimmer to volunteer coach, Caroline Benda follows in mom’s footsteps," 22 Aug. 2019 Sink-or-swim is an inadequate ethic for administrators to have. — James P. Sutton, National Review, "Fixing the College-Dropout Problem," 9 Aug. 2019 The two have competed in countless competitions together, including two Ironman Triathlons – a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bicycle ride and full marathon – after meeting through a mutual friend. — Catie Wegman, sun-sentinel.com, "Ultra-marathoner and cancer advocate carries partner to Guinness record: ‘This isn’t hard. Chemo is hard.’," 2 Aug. 2019 There’s only one hairstyle that can survive ninety-degree weather, an afternoon swim, and a bikini body workout plan, which why everyone is rocking braids this summer. — Essence, "11 Celebrity Braid Styles To Copy Right Now," 12 July 2019 The weekly traditional camp is offered for children 2 years through 10th grade with arts and crafts, sports, free swim, swim lessons and more. — Gege Reed, The Courier-Journal, "Still looking for a summer camp? Try these 6 arts-related ones in Louisville," 10 June 2019 The aggressive, hard-fighting fish swim in streams, creeks, rivers, ponds, lakes and reservoirs measured in tens of thousands of acres. — Gary Garth, USA TODAY, "Bass fishing with a fly rod? Try it – they're not just for trout anymore," 10 June 2019 The couple has completed more than 75 triathlons since, working up to their first full Ironman (2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, 26.2-mile run) in Lake Placid, N.Y., in 2017. — Jen Murphy, WSJ, "This Ironman Couple Redefines Going the Distance," 2 June 2019 Julie Henn, a member of the Baltimore County Board of Education and a Perry Hall resident, was at Pet Depot on July 14 to take her dog, Toby, for a swim. — Libby Solomon, baltimoresun.com, "Dog day afternoon: Pet Depot in Timonium hosts pup pool parties," 29 July 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective
In the opening minutes, University of Florida swim team star Haley Keller (played by Kaya Scodelario) drives back to her hometown in the middle of a Category 5 hurricane to check in on her worryingly incommunicado dad, Dave (Barry Pepper). — Noel Murray, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Review: Giant gators and a mega-hurricane are undermined by daddy issues in ‘Crawl’," 12 July 2019 Her kids were two of about 180 children between the ages of 3 and 12 to participate in the swim lesson throughout the afternoon event. — Jane Stueckemann, Houston Chronicle, "Dozens learn water safety tips at session in The Woodlands," 20 June 2019 Though swimming in District rivers is banned, officials began allowing permitted swim events in the Potomac in 2012 and the Anacostia last year (though one has not been held). — Justin Wm. Moyer, Washington Post, "Rock Creek is Washington’s ‘dirtiest’ waterway. New testing might help nurse it back to health.," 9 Aug. 2019 Sun broke down in tears surrounded by Chinese media after his defeat, while the Chinese swim team manager Xu Qi demanded an apology. — Julia Hollingsworth, CNN, "Chinese swimmer Sun Yang to rival Mack Horton: 'You must respect China'," 22 July 2019 Bear Creek Lake Park: Located just east of Morrison, Bear Creek has great trail running as well as asphalt roads and concrete bike paths (and a swim beach). — John Meyer, The Know, "The best trail running routes along the Front Range," 22 July 2019 The nonprofit Westminster Stingrays Swim Team began in 1989 and has grown exponentially to a team of over 150 swimmers, competing in the Central Maryland Swim League and providing a robust swim lesson program for the community. — Lois Szymanski, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "Westminster Stingrays Swim Team looks at reflection at 30th anniversary," 15 July 2019 His mother Doris was a member of the 1924 Olympic swim team. — Anne M. Hamilton, courant.com, "Extraordinary Life: It was hard to miss Johnny Murphy, a passionate lawyer who embraced Hartford," 14 July 2019