swinging

plural swingings

1. countableuncountableThe act or motion of that which swings.

   Mr. Henderson's chief trouble seems to be that he cannot forget his old shiftiness of views and his pendulum-like swingings between Liberalism and Independent Labourism[…]

   1973, Socialist Review, volume 8, page 331

2. countableuncountablelifestyleAn activity where couples engage in sexual activity with different partners, often in a group setting.

   Then one night in bed, Simon gently suggested swinging. I was resistant to it, but I thought Simon might leave me if I said no. I agreed to it for him, for our relationship.

   2025 June 22, Olivia Ladanyi, “This is how we do it: ‘I discovered my bisexuality when my husband and I started swinging’”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 02 Jul 2025

   1 more example

   Our swinging friends were in all sorts of professions – teachers, doctors, bankers, at-home mums. […] We left swinging for a few years, being busy with our children and work.

   2017 October 13, anonymous author, “My life in sex: ‘We have rules for swinging: no one cheating on their wives, no one who supports Trump’”, in The Guardian, →ISSN, archived from the original on 17 Feb 2018

1. gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of swing

comparative more swinging · comparative swinginger · superlative most swinging · superlative swingingest

1. That swings
2. informalFine, good, successful.

   The party was swinging.

   1 more example

   1964, Lou Sullivan, personal diary, quoted in 2019, Ellis Martin, Zach Ozma (editors), We Both Laughed In Pleasure Didn't do anything great except saw "The Beatles" on The Ed Sullivan Show and Kathy practically had a bird. They are sorta cute but I think Ringo is swingin, George is cute, Paul is a good singer and John is icky. Too!

3. Sexually promiscuous.

   Hey, everyone fantasizes about what kind of swinging stud or studette they could be if they were only free from the shackles of domesticity.

   2003 February 23, Bob Goldman, “Welcome To Splitsville”, in Florida Today

comparative more swinging · superlative most swinging

1. alternativeAlternative form of swingeing.

   “It is an eating fever then,” says the landlady; “for he hath devoured two swinging buttered toasts this morning for breakfast.”

   1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC