swelled; swelled or swollen
ˈswō-lən 
; swelling
; swelling
1
a
: to expand (as in size, volume, or numbers) gradually beyond a normal or original limit
the population swelled
b
: to become distended or puffed up
her ankle is badly swollen
c
: to form a bulge or rounded elevation
2
a
: to become filled with pride and arrogance
b
: to behave or speak in a pompous, blustering, or self-important manner
c
: to play the swell
3
: to become distended with emotion
1
: to affect with a powerful or expansive emotion
2
: to increase the size, number, or intensity of
swell the applicant pool
1
: a long often massive and crestless wave or succession of waves often continuing beyond or after its cause (such as a gale)
2
a
: the condition of being protuberant
b
: a rounded elevation
3
a
: the act or process of swelling
b(1)
: a gradual increase and decrease of the loudness of a musical sound
also
: a sign indicating a swell
(2)
: a device used in an organ for governing loudness
4
a
archaic
: an impressive, pompous, or fashionable air or display
b
: a person dressed in the height of fashion
c
: a person of high social position or outstanding competence
Examples of swell in a Sentence
Verb
Her broken ankle swelled badly.
Heavy rains swelled the river.
The population has swelled in recent years.
The economy is swelling at an annual rate of five percent.
Immigrants have swelled the population.
Noun
The storm has brought high winds and heavy swells along the coast.
the swell of a pregnant woman's belly
a swell in the population
the swell of the music
Adjective
That was a swell party.
what a swell time we had at the country club dance
Recent Examples on the Web
Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025
The body responds with inflammation, causing redness, warmth, swelling, and pain in the affected area.
—Josephine Hessert, Verywell Health, 20 Mar. 2025
Christina Morales, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
That cathartic swell into the credits was the perfect finishing touch to that movie.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Jan. 2025
Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 19 Mar. 2025
Why do our ankles swell when they’re sprained or does our skin turn red — or inflamed — when it’s scraped?
—Akshay Syal, M.d., NBC News, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swell
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
In some cases, your body may recognize the hyaluronic acid in fillers as a foreign substance that also requires an immune response, leading to swelling, nodules or other inflammatory reactions.
—Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 20 Mar. 2025
The body responds with inflammation, causing redness, warmth, swelling, and pain in the affected area.
—Josephine Hessert, Verywell Health, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
The podcast, released in 2014, presented new evidence and led to a swell of interest in the case.
—Christina Morales, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2025
That cathartic swell into the credits was the perfect finishing touch to that movie.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
Imperial College London View 1 Images Our soft tissues swell and shrink throughout the day, so a wearable that fits in the morning may not do so in the afternoon.
—Ben Coxworth, New Atlas, 19 Mar. 2025
Why do our ankles swell when they’re sprained or does our skin turn red — or inflamed — when it’s scraped?
—Akshay Syal, M.d., NBC News, 4 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for swell
Cite this Entry
“Swell.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swell. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
swell
1 of 3 verb
swelled; swelled or swollen
ˈswō-lən
; swelling
; swelling
1
a
: to expand (as in size, volume, or numbers) gradually beyond a normal or original limit
rivers swollen by rain
the population swelled
b
: to become abnormally enlarged or puffed up
the sprained ankle swelled badly
c
: to form a bulge or lump
2
: to fill or become filled with pride
3
: to fill or become filled with emotion
his heart was swollen with jealousy
swell
2 of 3 noun1
a
: a rounded lump
b
: the condition of bulging
2
: a long rolling wave or series of waves in the open sea
3
: a gradual increase and decrease of the loudness of a musical sound
also
: a sign marking a swell
4
: a fashionably dressed person
swell
3 of 3 adjective
: very good : excellent
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