swam

[ swam ]

/ swæm /

verb

simple past tense of swim.

Words nearby swam

swallow-tailed kite, swallow-tanager, swallowing reflex, swallowtail, swallowwort, swam, swami, swammerdam, swamp, swamp andromeda, swamp azalea

Definition for swam (2 of 2)

swim

[ swim ]

/ swɪm /

verb (used without object), swam, swum, swim·ming.

to move in water by movements of the limbs, fins, tail, etc.

to float on the surface of water or some other liquid.

to move, rest, or be suspended in air as if swimming in water.

to move, glide, or go smoothly over a surface.

to be immersed or steeped in or overflowing or flooded with a liquid: eyes swimming with tears.

to be dizzy or giddy; seem to whirl: My head began to swim.

verb (used with object), swam, swum, swim·ming.

to move along in or cross (a body of water) by swimming: to swim a lake.

to perform (a particular stroke) in swimming: to swim a sidestroke.

to cause to swim or float, as on a stream.

to furnish with sufficient water to swim or float.

noun

an act, instance, or period of swimming.

a motion as of swimming; a smooth, gliding movement.

Origin of swim

before 900; Middle English swimmen, Old English swimman; cognate with Dutch zwemmen, German schwimmen, Old Norse svimma

OTHER WORDS FROM swim

swim·ma·ble, adjective swim·mer, noun non·swim·mer, noun out·swim, verb, out·swam, out·swum, out·swim·ming.

Example sentences from the Web for swam

She attended a multicultural performing arts school and swam competitively.

Walking Dead’s Danai Gurira Vs. Boko Haram |Kristi York Wooten |November 30, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
They swam in the direction of the lights of Giglio, not knowing exactly what they were swimming toward.

I Survived a Deadly Shipwreck: Costa Concordia Passengers Tell Their Stories |Barbie Latza Nadeau |May 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
If they swam just as strenuously on the tenth immersion as on the first, the risk of drowning would increase dramatically.

How Depression Could Save Your Life |Nick Romeo |March 4, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
My friend, her boyfriend, and I woke up to find a wild, empty beach where we sunbathed, swam naked, and laughed all day.

Nine Amazing Places To Skinny Dip Around The World |Erin Cunningham |September 21, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

But not even 20 seconds later, we saw a huge, 14-foot shark that swam about 40 feet from us.

Off the Hook: Eric Young’s Craziest Shark Catches (Video) |Anna Klassen |August 5, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
My eyes followed him till they swam with rising tears, and I could not wipe them away, as my hands were fettered.

Maurice Tiernay Soldier of Fortune |Charles James Lever
After "setting the hook" securely, Carol and Bill donned swim suits, dove overboard and swam lazily the 300 yards in to shore.

The Day of the Dog |Anderson Horne
The men hesitated for a moment, but directly after let themselves down, and swam boldly after her.

Christmas Penny Readings |George Manville Fenn
The wise bear deserted the ship in the midst of the rapids and swam ashore.

America, Volume IV (of 6) |Joel Cook
Hazel ran out into the water until she was up to her neck, then she swam out.

The Meadow-Brook Girls by the Sea |Janet Aldridge

British Dictionary definitions for swam (1 of 2)

swam

/ (swæm) /

verb

the past tense of swim

British Dictionary definitions for swam (2 of 2)

swim

/ (swɪm) /

verb swims, swimming, swam or swum

(intr) to move along in water, etc, by means of movements of the body or parts of the body, esp the arms and legs, or (in the case of fish) tail and fins

(tr) to cover (a distance or stretch of water) in this way

(tr) to compete in (a race) in this way

(intr) to be supported by and on a liquid; float

(tr) to use (a particular stroke) in swimming

(intr) to move smoothly, usually through air or over a surface

(intr) to reel or seem to reel my head swam; the room swam around me

(intr; often foll by in or with) to be covered or flooded with water or other liquid

(intr often foll by in) to be liberally supplied (with) he's swimming in money

(tr) to cause to float or swim

(tr) to provide (something) with water deep enough to float in

swim against the tide or swim against the stream to resist prevailing opinion

swim with the tide or swim with the stream to conform to prevailing opinion

noun

the act, an instance, or period of swimming

any graceful gliding motion

a condition of dizziness; swoon

a pool in a river good for fishing

in the swim informal fashionable or active in social or political activities

Derived forms of swim

swimmable, adjective swimmer, noun swimming, noun, adjective

Word Origin for swim

Old English swimman; related to Old Norse svima, German schwimmen, Gothic swumsl pond, Norwegian svamla to paddle

Idioms and Phrases with swam

swim

In addition to the idioms beginning with swim

swim against the current
swim with the tide

also see:

in the swim
sink or swim

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

swam

verb

Words nearby swam

Definition for swam (2 of 2)

verb (used without object), swam, swum, swim·ming.

verb (used with object), swam, swum, swim·ming.

noun

Origin of swim

OTHER WORDS FROM swim

Example sentences from the Web for swam

British Dictionary definitions for swam (1 of 2)

verb

British Dictionary definitions for swam (2 of 2)

verb swims, swimming, swam or swum

noun

Derived forms of swim

Word Origin for swim

Idioms and Phrases with swam

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

swam

verb

Words nearby swam

Definition for swam (2 of 2)

verb (used without object), swam, swum, swim·ming.

verb (used with object), swam, swum, swim·ming.

noun

Origin of swim

OTHER WORDS FROM swim

Words related to swam

Example sentences from the Web for swam

British Dictionary definitions for swam (1 of 2)

verb

British Dictionary definitions for swam (2 of 2)

verb swims, swimming, swam or swum

noun

Derived forms of swim

Word Origin for swim

Idioms and Phrases with swam