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
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
Adam Morganstern, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Spend your days tanning on the beach, or get active hiking trails with panoramic views, riding buggies through rolling hills, whale watching or swimming with stingrays at Stingray City.
—Danielle Pointdujour, Essence, 13 Mar. 2025
Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 12 Mar. 2025
Building a new recreation center in Flatbush named after the illustrious Shirley Chisholm so local kids can take swim lessons.
—Thomas Foley, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2025
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
On the longer three-day voyages, guests will also be taken to the sand dunes of Taka Makassar, a snorkeling excursion at Manta Point — naturally with plenty of manta rays to swim with — and a trip to Mawan Island for more swimming, hiking or just relaxing on the beach.
—Adam Morganstern, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
Spend your days tanning on the beach, or get active hiking trails with panoramic views, riding buggies through rolling hills, whale watching or swimming with stingrays at Stingray City.
—Danielle Pointdujour, Essence, 13 Mar. 2025
Noun
After making her way up a driveway to a mansion, the Hannah Montana alum strips down to her underwear, takes a swim in the pool, exercises, showers and steals a suit from the luxury house’s closet, all the while dancing to herself.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 12 Mar. 2025
Building a new recreation center in Flatbush named after the illustrious Shirley Chisholm so local kids can take swim lessons.
—Thomas Foley, New York Daily News, 11 Mar. 2025
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
Articles Related to swim
Cite this Entry
“Swim.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swim. Accessed 24 Mar. 2025.
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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