swamp

1 of 2

noun

ˈswämp How to pronounce swamp (audio)
ˈswȯmp
1
: a wetland often partially or intermittently covered with water
especially : one dominated by woody vegetation
2
: a tract of swamp
3
: a difficult or troublesome situation or subject
swamp adjective

swamp

2 of 2

verb

swamped; swamping; swamps

transitive verb

1
a
: to fill with or as if with water : inundate, submerge
b
: to overwhelm numerically or by an excess of something : flood
swamped with work
2
: to open by removing underbrush and debris

intransitive verb

: to become submerged

Examples of swamp in a Sentence

Noun Alligators live in the lowland swamps. be careful in the swamp, because alligators sometimes lurk there Verb The sea level rose and swamped the coastal villages. The boat sank after it was swamped by waves.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
In honor of the anniversary of 'Shrek,' see which character you are based on your zodiac sign, according to celebrity astrologer Valerie Mesa PEOPLE exclusive readings Comments Once upon a celestial swamp. Skyler Caruso, People.com, 22 Apr. 2025 There are jungle, swamp, desert, and island ecosystems all featured on the show, all populated by geographically accurate animal species. Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 22 Apr. 2025
Verb
After his eventual arrest in an Altoona, PA McDonalds, spurred by a tip from a worker who recognized Mangione, the restaurant was swamped with negative reviews and had to hire private security to protect workers, Newsweek reported. Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 2 Apr. 2025 The idea is that you won’t be swamped by notifications so the important ones get missed. David Phelan, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for swamp

Word History

Etymology

Noun

perhaps alteration of Middle English sompe, from Middle Dutch somp morass; akin to Middle High German sumpf marsh, Greek somphos spongy

First Known Use

Noun

1624, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1784, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of swamp was in 1624

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Swamp.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/swamp. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

swamp

1 of 2 noun
ˈswämp How to pronounce swamp (audio)
ˈswȯmp
: wet spongy land often partly covered with water

swamp

2 of 2 verb
1
: to fill or become filled with or as if with water
2
: overwhelm sense 2
was swamped with work

More from Merriam-Webster on swamp

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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