noun
swish
swihsh
noun
1
A soft rustling or hissing sound, often caused by quick movement through the air.
"The swish of her dress echoed down the hallway."
2
A basketball shot that passes cleanly through the net without touching the rim or backboard.
"He sank a perfect swish from beyond the three-point line."
verb
1
To move with a soft rustling or hissing sound.
"The horse's tail swished away the flies."
adj
1
Fashionable and impressively smart (informal, British).
"They stayed at a swish hotel overlooking the harbor."
How to Use Swish
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA soft rustling/hissing sound (or to make one), a clean basketball shot, or (informally) stylish and upscale.
Common pairings
swish of fabric
a swish hotel
nothing but swish
Word Forms
swisher comparative, more swish comparative, swished past tense, swishes plural, swishes singular, swishest superlative, most swish superlative
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Etymology
Imitative in origin — the word was invented to mimic the sound it describes.