swam

Definition of swamnext
past tense of swim
1
as in spun
to be in a confused state as if from being twirled around his head was swimming after he was given so much information on his first day at the new job

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2
as in hovered
to rest or move along the surface of a liquid or in the air there appeared to be an oily film swimming on the water

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of swam The whale swam into an inlet on the small island of Poel, near the port of Wismar, on Tuesday and got stuck again. ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026 The Secret to Staying Sharp The actor, who previously swam and played tennis, now works out with a personal trainer twice a week — alongside Bartlett. Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2026 When first responders arrived, a diver swam to the vehicle and connected it to a wrecker so the car could be pulled out of the water. Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 31 Mar. 2026 Earlier this month, Esparza swam the anchor leg on three relay teams that won gold medals at the NCAA Division II national finals in Evansville, Indiana. Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026 As he was airlifted away, a black and white dog swam through the water beneath him and the first responder. Alyce McFadden, San Francisco Chronicle, 23 Mar. 2026 Off the island of Dominica, guests swam within 20 feet of giant sperm whales. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 22 Mar. 2026 Jackson swam in it, but was inspired by it. Los Angeles Times, 18 Mar. 2026 Officers said one person swam ashore after his fishing boat capsized near Pedro's Point on Friday afternoon. Christa Swanson, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swam
Verb
  • The Illinois freshman then spun to his left and hopped back behind the 3-point line, swishing his second 3-pointer of the night.
    Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
  • This is made of cellulose spun into the fibers.
    Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • About half of the oil from Deepwater Horizon accumulated in a soupy plume that hovered at a depth of around eleven hundred metres.
    Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
  • The temperature hovered in the 30s.
    Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • For cruisers who have sailed on Icon-class ships previously, returning features like the Pearl kinetic art sculpture, the open-air Central Park, the AquaTheater and Absolute Zero will all feel familiar.
    Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2026
  • The vessels — the CSCL Indian Ocean and CSCL Arctic Ocean — sailed out of the Gulf in close formation and are now moving at elevated speed toward the Gulf of Oman, MarineTraffic data indicates.
    Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • She’s viewed as one of the most progressive members of the House of Representatives and has been floated as a potential candidate in either the 2028 presidential race or as a challenger to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, also a Democrat.
    Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Mamdani has also floated the idea of raising taxes on wealthy New Yorkers, a proposal Hochul has resisted.
    Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The vessel remained afloat and drifted towards Libya's coast, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature, a global conservation organization.
    ABC News, ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026
  • The stricken Dannebroge slowly drifted northward and exploded.
    CBS News, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Swam.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swam. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.

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