noun
Uncommon
swamp
SWOMP
Swamp (noun) means an area of wet, spongy, low-lying land, often with trees, that supports rich but sometimes difficult-to-access wildlife. Example: “Alligators bask along the edges of the swamp.”
noun
1
An area of wet, spongy, low-lying land, often with trees, that supports rich but sometimes difficult-to-access wildlife.
"Alligators bask along the edges of the swamp."
"The trail wound through a cypress swamp."
"Frogs and herons live in the swamp behind the old farm."
verb
1
To overwhelm someone with too much of something, especially work or requests.
"The helpline was swamped with calls after the storm."
"She was swamped with emails after returning from leave."
"New students can feel swamped by the amount of reading in the first week."
2
To flood or fill something with water.
"A rogue wave swamped the small boat."
"Heavy rain swamped the cellar overnight and ruined the boxes stored there."
"Waves swamped the little dinghy before we reached the shore."
How to use swamp
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA soggy, low wetland — or, figuratively, to completely overwhelm someone with too much of something.
Common pairings
swamped with work
a cypress swamp
swamp the boat
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like swamp.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- swamps
- Third person singular
- swamps
- Past tense
- swamped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Alligators bask along the edges of the _____.
Etymology
Probably a blend of Old English swamm ("fungus, sponge") and Middle English sompe ("marsh"), first widely recorded in colonial North America.
Related words
Rhymes for swamp
See all rhymes for swamp →Frequently asked questions
What does “swamp” mean?
The word “swamp” means an area of wet, spongy, low-lying land, often with trees, that supports rich but sometimes difficult-to-access wildlife. In plain terms, a soggy, low wetland — or, figuratively, to completely overwhelm someone with too much of something.
How do you pronounce “swamp”?
“Swamp” is pronounced SWOMP (/ˈswɑmp/ in IPA).
How do you use “swamp” in a sentence?
Here is “swamp” used in a sentence: “Alligators bask along the edges of the swamp.”
What part of speech is “swamp”?
Depending on how it is used, “swamp” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “swamp” come from?
The word “swamp” comes from Old English. Probably a blend of Old English swamm ("fungus, sponge") and Middle English sompe ("marsh"), first widely recorded in colonial North America.
Is “swamp” a common word?
“Swamp” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “swamp” have?
“Swamp” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an area of wet, spongy, low-lying land, often with trees, that supports rich but sometimes difficult-to-access wildlife.
What is the difference between a swamp and a marsh?
A swamp is wet, low-lying land that often supports trees, giving it a wooded character, while a marsh is typically treeless and dominated by grasses and reeds. Both are types of wetland but differ mainly in the vegetation they support.
What does it mean to be swamped with work?
To be 'swamped' with work means being overwhelmed by too much of it, especially requests or tasks piling up faster than they can be handled. This is a figurative use of the verb 'swamp', drawn from the idea of being flooded.
Can swamp be used as a verb?
Yes, as a verb 'swamp' can mean either to overwhelm someone with too much of something, such as work, or to physically flood or fill an area with water. Both senses share the underlying idea of being submerged or inundated.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include swamp:
