swim 1 of 2

Definition of swimnext
1
as in to spin
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 to sail
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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swim

2 of 2

noun

as in trance
a temporary state of unconsciousness the merest glimpse of blood sends him into a swim

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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 swim
Verb
Long Island Sand tiger shark A 20-year-old woman swimming in shallow water off Jones Beach State Park near Wantagh sustained minor cuts to her foot and leg when she was bitten. Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026 Surrounded by rolling hills and unobstructed views of beautiful Otsego Lake, Cooperstown is a hub for outdoor enthusiasts looking to hike, swim, and play golf at The Otesaga Resort Hotel’s renowned Leatherstocking Golf Course. Linnea Bailey, Travel + Leisure, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
Now, New London has a beautiful eight-lane pool open for swim lessons, lap swim and family swim multiple times a week. Claire Benedict, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2026 There are even benefits from simply watching a cat chase their tail or a fish swim in their tank. Bill Strickland, Parents, 8 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for swim
Recent Examples of Synonyms for swim
Verb
  • Taken together, these features strongly suggest the object was part of a bow drill — a device that spins a shaft using a bow and string to create rapid back-and-forth rotation.
    Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
  • The elusive, incredibly difficult jump involves launching forward, spinning 4 1/2 times in the air, and landing backwards.
    Alex Connor, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • This has disrupted standing deployment plans, scrambled ships to sail thousands of miles and put increasing strain on vessels and equipment that are already facing mounting maintenance issues.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 11 Feb. 2026
  • If only the Rose of Nevada were to sail again, maybe the village’s fortunes could be reversed.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 11 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The floating objects, trance communications, phantom touches, miraculous healings, and poltergeist writings that followed in the five decades after Mona’s death were attributed to her and a pantheon of other notable spirits, including Black Elk.
    Shannon Taggart, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2026
  • In other words, the age-old trance of acceptance has broken, and there are suddenly too many entrepreneurs capturing disaffected audiences by accusing legacy institutions of corruption and cowardice.
    Sean Williams, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Matte black hearts float across a nude base, framed by glossy, solid black nails.
    Samantha Brash, InStyle, 8 Feb. 2026
  • The design of Jane and Bob's house was of that era, intended to feel weightless, floating above and looking over.
    CBS News, CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Now the state, if not region, is in a daze.
    Troy Renck, Denver Post, 18 Jan. 2026
  • The morning after Maduro was captured, as the sun rose over the mountains at the edge of the city, people had stepped out of their homes in a daze.
    Armando Ledezma, New Yorker, 14 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • The latest tally marks an eight-week high and comes after a recent stretch where filings, which are considered a proxy for layoff activity, had hovered around two-year lows.
    Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
  • The service This is where Sofitel shines—attentive, multilingual staff who anticipate your needs without hovering.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Serving fresh seafood of the highest quality on an ever-changing menu in the heart of America’s Heartland is a task not for the faint of spirit, but attention from Bon Appetit, the New York Times and the James Beard Foundation proves the crew at Sedalia’s is more than up for the challenge.
    USA TODAY NETWORK, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
  • This character is classic McCarthy, from her impressive displays of anger (captured on videotape) to her repeated, dramatic fake faints.
    Charu Sinha, Vulture, 7 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • A little girl riding a bike with training wheels, notwithstanding her hot pink tutu.
    Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 13 Feb. 2026
  • Some bus stops are also used as a hub for the distribution of narcotics, with people buying and selling out in the open, in addition to smoking fentanyl or methamphetamines while riding the bus, according to Jacobson.
    Michael Ruiz , Adriana James-Rodil, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Swim.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/swim. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.

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