Meaning

(intransitive) To move through the water, without touching the bottom; to propel oneself in water by natural means..

Definitions by Sense

1. (intransitive) To move through the water, without touching the bottom; to propel oneself in water by natural means.
2. (intransitive) To become immersed in, or as if in, or flooded with, or as if with, a liquid.
3. (intransitive) To move around freely because of excess space.
4. (transitive) To traverse (a specific body of water, or a specific distance) by swimming; or, to use a specific swimming stroke; or, to compete in a specific swimming event.
5. (transitive, uncommon) To cause to swim.
6. (intransitive, archaic) To float.
7. (intransitive) To be overflowed or drenched.
8. (transitive) To immerse in water to make the lighter parts float.

Example Sentences

We were now all upon a Level, as to our travelling; being unshipp’d, for our Bark would swim no farther, and she was too heavy to carry on our Backs […]

He turned back to the scene before him and the enormous new block of council dwellings. The design was some way after Corbusier but the block was built up on plinths and resembled an Atlantic liner swimming diagonally across the site.

Meanwhile, NR faced an unexpected challenge when a night watchman spotted several Koi Carp swimming in floodwater close to the railway, after they had escaped from a nearby private residence. Wilson says the owner was eventually traced, and the fish were safely returned "after enjoying swimming around in a 3,000-acre lake".

swimming in self-pity

a bare few bits of meat swimming in watery sauce

A fam'd Sur-tout he wears, which once was blue, / And his foot swims in a capacious shoe.

For exercise, we like to swim laps around the pool.

I want to swim the 200-yard breaststroke in the finals.

Word Forms

• swims
• swimming
• swam
• swum
• no-table-tags
• glossary
• swim
• swammest
• -
• swimmand

Synonyms for swim

Antonyms for swim

Related Words

When Should You Use Swim?

Use swim when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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