swim

present singular third person swims · participle present swimming · past swam · archaic past swum · participle past swum · first person past singular swam · archaic first person past singular swum · past second person singular swam · archaic past second person singular swum · archaic past second person singular swammest · present singular third person swims · past singular third person swam · archaic past singular third person swum · past plural swam · archaic past plural swum · past subjunctive swam

1. intransitiveTo move through the water, without touching the bottom; to propel oneself in water by natural means.

   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 […]

   1720, Daniel Defoe, Captain Singleton, London: J. Brotherton, page 87

   2 more examples

   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.

   1963, Margery Allingham, “Foreword”, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC

   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".

   2020 May 20, Paul Stephen, “NR beats floods to secure tracks to Drax”, in Rail, page 59

2. intransitiveTo become immersed in, or as if in, or flooded with, or as if with, a liquid.

   swimming in self-pity

   1 more example

   a bare few bits of meat swimming in watery sauce

3. intransitiveTo move around freely because of excess space.

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

   1777, The Poetical Preceptor; Or, a Collection of Select Pieces of Poetry, Etc

4. transitiveTo 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.

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

   2 more examples

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

   Sometimes he thought to swim the stormy main.

   1697, Virgil, “The Tenth Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

5. transitiveuncommonTo cause to swim.

   to swim a horse across a river

   1 more example

   Half of the guinea pigs were swum daily.

6. archaicintransitiveTo float.

   sink or swim

   3 more examples

   There's oil swimming on the water.

   Why, now, blow wind, swell billow, and swim bark! The storm is up and all is on the hazard.

   1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene i]

   And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 2 Kings 6:6

7. intransitiveTo be overflowed or drenched.

   Sudden, the ditches ſwell; the meadows ſwim.

   a. 1749 (date written), James Thomson, “Autumn”, in The Seasons, London: […] A[ndrew] Millar, and sold by Thomas Cadell, […], published 1768, →OCLC, page 127, line 336

   1 more example

   I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.

   1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 6:6

8. transitiveTo immerse in water to make the lighter parts float.

   to swim wheat in order to select seed

9. historicaltransitiveTo test (a suspected witch) by throwing into a river; those who floated rather than sinking were deemed to be witches.
10. intransitiveTo glide along with a waving motion.
11. intransitiveTo have a great quantity of something.

    You should be swimming in money after this job.

plural swims

1. An act or instance of swimming.

   I'm going for a swim.

   1 more example

   She had a quick swim in the bay.

2. The sound, or air bladder, of a fish.
3. UKA part of a stream much frequented by fish.
4. A dance or dance move of the 1960s in which the arms are moved in imitation of various swimming strokes, such as freestyle, breaststroke, etc.

   C'mon everybody! C'mon in! Bobby's goin' to show you how to do the swim.

   1964, “C'mon and Swim”, Thomas Coman and Sylvester Stewart (Sly Stone) (lyrics), performed by Bobby Freeman

5. figurativelyThe flow of events; being in the swim of things.

   With the road ahead now clear, Mann […] is plunging back into the swim of business in a hurry.

   1948 September 18, Billboard, page 104

plural swims

1. A dizziness; swoon.

present singular third person swims · participle present swimming · past swam · archaic past swum · participle past swum

1. intransitiveTo be dizzy or vertiginous; have a giddy sensation; to have, or appear to have, a whirling motion.

   My head was swimming after drinking two bottles of cheap wine.

   1 more example

   She snatched the letter from Sir Jasper, who started as her icy hand touched his: she attempted to read the passage herself, but the letters seemed to swim before her gaze: they turned to fire; the paper dropped from her grasp; a thick mist appeared to gather over the room; she gave a convulsive shudder, and dropped on the floor perfectly insensible.

   1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “The End of Doubt”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume I, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 291

1. Internetabbreviationno pluralAbbreviation of someone who isn't me, used as a way to avoid self-designation or self-incrimination, especially in online drug forums.

1. Internetsingularthird personSomeone who isn't me; someone who isn't myself

   SWIM would like to know how to grow marijuana.

plural Swims · alternative Swims

1. A surname.