swinging

[ swing-ing ]

/ ˈswɪŋ ɪŋ /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR swinging ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, superlative swing·ing·est.

characterized by or capable of swinging, being swung, or causing to swing.

intended for swinging upon, by, from, or in: the swinging devices in a playground.

Slang. excellent; first-rate.

Slang. lively, active, and modern; hip.

Slang.

free and uninhibited sexually: a swinging bachelor.
exchanging spouses for sex: swinging married couples.

noun

the activity or act of a person who swings.

Slang.

the act or practice of being free and uninhibited sexually.
the exchanging of spouses for sex.

Origin of swinging

First recorded in 1550–60; swing¹ + -ing²

OTHER WORDS FROM swinging

swing·ing·ly, adverb

Words nearby swinging

swingbeat, swingboat, swinge, swingeing, swinger, swinging, swinging door, swinging voter, swingle, swinglebar, swingletree

Definition for swinging (2 of 3)

swing ¹

[ swing ]

/ swɪŋ /

verb (used with object), swung, swing·ing.

to cause to move to and fro, sway, or oscillate, as something suspended from above: to swing one's arms in walking.

to cause to move in alternate directions or in either direction around a fixed point, on an axis, or on a line of support, as a door on hinges.

to move (the hand or something held) with an oscillating or rotary movement: to swing one's fists; to swing a club around one's head.

Aeronautics. to pull or turn (a propeller) by hand, especially in order to start the engine.

to turn in a new direction in a curve, as if around a central point: to swing the car into the driveway.

to suspend so as to hang freely, as a hammock or a door.

Informal. to influence or win over; manage or arrange as desired: to swing votes; to swing a business deal.

to direct, change, or shift (one's interest, opinion, support, etc.).

to turn (a ship or aircraft) to various headings in order to check compass deviation.

verb (used without object), swung, swing·ing.

to move or sway to and fro, as a pendulum or other suspended object.

to move to and fro in a swing, as for recreation.

to move in alternate directions or in either direction around a point, an axis, or a line of support, as a gate on its hinges.

to move in a curve, as around a corner or central point: The highway swings to the east.

to move with a free, swaying motion, as soldiers on the march.

to be suspended so as to hang freely, as a bell or hammock.

to move by grasping a support with the hands and drawing up the arms or using the momentum of the swaying body: a monkey swinging through trees.

to change or shift one's attention, interest, opinion, condition, etc.: He swung from mere indifference to outright scorn.

to hit at someone or something, with the hand or something grasped in the hand: The batter swung and struck out.

Slang.

to be characterized by a modern, lively atmosphere: Las Vegas swings all year.
to be stylish, trendy, hip, etc., especially in pursuing enjoyment.
to engage uninhibitedly in sexual activity.
(of married couples) to exchange partners for sexual activity.

Informal. to suffer death by hanging: He'll swing for the crime.

noun

the act, manner, or progression of swinging; movement in alternate directions or in a particular direction.

the amount or extent of such movement: to correct the swing of a pendulum.

a curving movement or course.

a moving of the body with a free, swaying motion, as in walking.

a blow or stroke with the hand or an object grasped in the hands: His swing drove the ball over the fence.

a change or shift in attitude, opinion, behavior, etc.

a steady, marked rhythm or movement, as of verse or music.

a regular upward or downward movement in the price of a commodity or of a security, or in any business activity.

Informal.

a work period coming between the regular day and night shifts.
a change by a group of workers from working one shift to working another.

freedom of action: to have free swing in carrying out a project.

active operation; progression: to get into the swing of things.

something that is swung or that swings.

a seat suspended from above by means of a loop of rope or between ropes or rods, on which one may sit and swing to and fro for recreation.

the maximum diameter of the work machinable in a certain lathe or other machine tool.

adjective

of or relating to a swing.

capable of determining the outcome, as of an election; deciding, as in swing vote; swing voter.

designed or constructed to permit swinging or hanging.

acting to relieve other workers when needed, as at night.

Origin of swing

before 900; Middle English swingen (verb), Old English swingan; cognate with German schwingen

SYNONYMS FOR swing

21 sway, vibration, oscillation.

22 range, scope, sweep, play.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR swing ON THESAURUS.COM

synonym study for swing

10. Swing, sway, oscillate, rock suggest a movement back and forth. Swing expresses the comparatively regular motion to and fro of a body supported from the end or ends, especially from above: A lamp swings from the ceiling. To sway is to swing gently and is used especially of fixed objects or of persons: Young oaks sway in the breeze. Oscillate refers to the smooth, regular, alternating movement of a body within certain limits between two fixed points. Rock indicates the slow and regular movement back and forth of a body, as on curved supports: A cradle rocks.

OTHER WORDS FROM swing

swing·a·ble, adjective

Definition for swinging (3 of 3)

swing ²

[ swing ]

/ swɪŋ /

noun

Also called Big Band music, swing music. a style of jazz, popular especially in the 1930s and often arranged for a large dance band, marked by a smoother beat and more flowing phrasing than Dixieland and having less complex harmonies and rhythms than modern jazz.

the rhythmic element that excites dancers and listeners to move in time to jazz music.

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of swing: a swing record.

verb (used with object), swung, swing·ing.

to play (music) in the style of swing.

Origin of swing

special use of swing¹

Example sentences from the Web for swinging

Is it any wonder that control of Congress is swinging back and forth like a tetherball?

After Torture Report, Our Moral Authority As a Nation Is Gone |Nick Gillespie |December 11, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
This was, after all, the Swinging Sixties in London and the country had moved on.

The Castration of Alan Turing, Britain’s Code-Breaking WWII Hero |Clive Irving |November 29, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Swinging high in the air, squeezing into a nook, or rolling down a hill might provide these sorts of sensory input.

Magical Gardens for the Blind, Deaf, and Disabled |Elizabeth Picciuto |October 22, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Killing Kittens became a very acceptable, high-end, society party which had swinging at it.

'Lord Fraud' Gets Out of Jail, Back Into Orgies |Tom Sykes |August 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

So, he participates in the swinging parties, we can conclude?

'Lord Fraud' Gets Out of Jail, Back Into Orgies |Tom Sykes |August 26, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
His heavy gun, swinging low, struck her as she stepped down.

The Man of the Forest |Zane Grey
"Nous verrons," answered I, swinging it on my forefinger, in order to demonstrate its lightness.

Frank Fairlegh |Frank E. Smedley
The music has changed and some of the five hundred present are swinging in the waltz.

Twenty Years in Europe |Samuel H. M. Byers
A little later I heard behind me the sound of a couple of horses coming along at a slow, swinging canter.

Sheilah McLeod |Guy Boothby
This swinging in the pan dissolves the flavor, which solidifies in the bottom of the pan; it greatly improves the sauce.

American Cookery |Various

British Dictionary definitions for swinging (1 of 2)

swinging

/ (ˈswɪŋɪŋ) /

adjective

moving rhythmically to and fro

slang modern and lively

noun

slang the practice of swapping sexual partners in a group, esp habitually

Derived forms of swinging

swingingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for swinging (2 of 2)

swing

/ (swɪŋ) /

verb swings, swinging or swung

to move or cause to move rhythmically to and fro, as a free-hanging object; sway

(intr) to move, walk, etc, with a relaxed and swaying motion

to pivot or cause to pivot, as on a hinge

to move or cause to move in a curve the car swung around the bend

to move or cause to move by suspending or being suspended

to hang or be hung so as to be able to turn freely

(intr) slang to be hanged he'll swing for it

to alter or cause to alter habits, a course, etc

(tr) informal to influence or manipulate successfully I hope he can swing the deal

(tr foll by up) to raise or hoist, esp in a sweeping motion

(intr often foll by at) to hit out or strike (at), esp with a sweeping motion

(tr) to wave (a weapon, etc) in a sweeping motion; flourish

to arrange or play (music) with the rhythmically flexible and compulsive quality associated with jazz

(intr) (of popular music, esp jazz, or of the musicians who play it) to have this quality

slang to be lively and modern

(intr) slang to swap sexual partners in a group, esp habitually

(intr) cricket to bowl (a ball) with swing or (of a ball) to move with a swing

to turn (a ship or aircraft) in order to test compass error

swing both ways slang to enjoy sexual partners of both sexes

swing the lead informal to malinger or make up excuses

noun

the act or manner of swinging or the distance covered while swinging a wide swing

a sweeping stroke or blow

boxing a wide punch from the side similar to but longer than a hook

cricket the lateral movement of a bowled ball through the air

any free-swaying motion

any curving movement; sweep

something that swings or is swung, esp a suspended seat on which a person may sit and swing back and forth

a kind of popular dance music influenced by jazz, usually played by big bands and originating in the 1930s
(as modifier)swing music

See swingbeat

prosody a steady distinct rhythm or cadence in prose or verse

informal the normal round or pace get into the swing of things

a fluctuation, as in some business activity, voting pattern etc
(as modifier) able to bring about a swing in a voting patternswing party
(as modifier) having a mixed voting history, and thus becoming a target for political election campaignersa swing state

US informal free scope; freedom of activity

mainly US a circular tour

Canadian a tour of a particular area or region

Canadian (in the North) a train of freight sleighs or canoes

go with a swing to go well; be successful

in full swing at the height of activity

swings and roundabouts equal advantages and disadvantages

Word Origin for swing

Old English swingan; related to Old Frisian swinga, Old High German swingan

Cultural definitions for swinging

swing

A kind of jazz generally played by a “Big Band” and characterized by a lively rhythm suitable for dancing. The bands of Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Glenn Miller played swing.

Idioms and Phrases with swinging

swing

In addition to the idiom beginning with swing

swing into action

also see:

get into the swing of things
in full swing
not enough room to swing a car

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

swinging

adjective, superlative swing·ing·est.

noun

Origin of swinging

OTHER WORDS FROM swinging

Words nearby swinging

Definition for swinging (2 of 3)

verb (used with object), swung, swing·ing.

verb (used without object), swung, swing·ing.

noun

adjective

Origin of swing

SYNONYMS FOR swing

synonym study for swing

OTHER WORDS FROM swing

Definition for swinging (3 of 3)

noun

adjective

verb (used with object), swung, swing·ing.

Origin of swing

Example sentences from the Web for swinging

British Dictionary definitions for swinging (1 of 2)

adjective

noun

Derived forms of swinging

British Dictionary definitions for swinging (2 of 2)

verb swings, swinging or swung

noun

Word Origin for swing

Cultural definitions for swinging

Idioms and Phrases with swinging

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

swinging

adjective, superlative swing·ing·est.

noun

Origin of swinging

OTHER WORDS FROM swinging

Words nearby swinging

Definition for swinging (2 of 3)

verb (used with object), swung, swing·ing.

verb (used without object), swung, swing·ing.

noun

adjective

Origin of swing

SYNONYMS FOR swing

synonym study for swing

OTHER WORDS FROM swing

Definition for swinging (3 of 3)

noun

adjective

verb (used with object), swung, swing·ing.

Origin of swing

Words related to swinging

Example sentences from the Web for swinging

British Dictionary definitions for swinging (1 of 2)

adjective

noun

Derived forms of swinging

British Dictionary definitions for swinging (2 of 2)

verb swings, swinging or swung

noun

Word Origin for swing

Cultural definitions for swinging

Idioms and Phrases with swinging