swallow
SWOL-oh
Swallow (verb) means to move food or drink from the mouth down into the stomach. Example: “The tablet was so big that she struggled to swallow it.”
verb
1
To move food or drink from the mouth down into the stomach.
"The tablet was so big that she struggled to swallow it."
"Chew your food well before you swallow it."
"He took a large bite and swallowed before speaking."
2
To accept or believe something readily, often too readily.
"He will swallow any story as long as it sounds exciting."
"Don't swallow everything you read online without checking it first."
"I find it hard to swallow his excuse this time."
3
To put up with something unpleasant without complaining or retaliating.
"He had to swallow the insult and carry on with the meeting."
"Sometimes you simply swallow the criticism and get on with the job."
"She swallowed her pride and apologised first."
noun
1
A small, fast-flying migratory bird with a forked tail that catches insects in flight.
"A swallow darted over the pond, snapping up tiny flies."
"We watched a swallow build its nest under the eaves."
"Swallows return to the same barn every spring."
How to use swallow
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo take food down your throat into your stomach — or figuratively, to accept or endure something without objecting.
Common mistake
The bird sense (a swallow) is unrelated in modern feel from the verb, though they share the same word.
Common pairings
swallow your pride
swallow a story
hard to swallow
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Word forms
- Plural
- swallows
- Third person singular
- swallows
- Past tense
- swallowed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The tablet was so big that she struggled to _____ it.
Etymology
From Old English swelgan, "to swallow, devour."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for swallow
See all rhymes for swallow →Frequently asked questions
What does “swallow” mean?
The word “swallow” means to move food or drink from the mouth down into the stomach. In plain terms, to take food down your throat into your stomach — or figuratively, to accept or endure something without objecting.
How do you pronounce “swallow”?
“Swallow” is pronounced SWOL-oh (/ˈswɑ.loʊ/ in IPA).
How do you use “swallow” in a sentence?
Here is “swallow” used in a sentence: “He took a large bite and swallowed before speaking.”
What part of speech is “swallow”?
Depending on how it is used, “swallow” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “swallow” come from?
The word “swallow” comes from Old English. From Old English swelgan, "to swallow, devour.".
Is “swallow” a common word?
“Swallow” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “swallow” have?
“Swallow” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to move food or drink from the mouth down into the stomach.
What is the difference between the two main meanings of "swallow"?
"Swallow" can be a verb meaning to move food or drink down into the stomach, or a noun naming a small, fast-flying migratory bird with a forked tail. The two senses are unrelated in meaning despite sharing the same spelling.
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