swim
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for swim, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To move through water by moving the arms, legs, fins, or tail.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use swim
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old English swimman, "to swim or float" — an ancient Germanic verb shared, in some form, by nearly every northern European language.
Full origin of swim →Frequently asked questions
What does “swim” mean?
The word “swim” means to move through water by moving the arms, legs, fins, or tail. In plain terms, to propel yourself through water, or (less commonly) to feel dizzy; also a noun for a session of swimming.
How do you pronounce “swim”?
“Swim” is pronounced swihm (/swɪm/ in IPA).
How do you use “swim” in a sentence?
Here is “swim” used in a sentence: “The kids learned to swim at the local pool.”
What part of speech is “swim”?
Depending on how it is used, “swim” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “swim” come from?
The word “swim” comes from Old English. From Old English swimman, "to swim or float" — an ancient Germanic verb shared, in some form, by nearly every northern European language.
Is “swim” a common word?
“Swim” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “swim” have?
“Swim” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to move through water by moving the arms, legs, fins, or tail.
What is the difference between 'swim,' 'swam,' and 'swum'?
'Swim' is the present tense, 'swam' is the simple past ('she swam yesterday'), and 'swum' is the past participle used after 'have' or 'had' ('she has swum'). Mixing them up, such as saying 'she has swam,' is a common error; the participle form is 'swum.'
What is the difference between 'swim' and 'float'?
To 'swim' is to actively move through water using the arms, legs, fins, or tail. To 'float' is to rest on or near the surface without that effort, staying up because of buoyancy. Swimming involves movement, while floating can be completely still.