swap
SWOP
Swap (verb) means to exchange one thing for another. Example: “If you dislike your starter, I will happily swap it with mine.”
verb
1
To exchange one thing for another.
"If you dislike your starter, I will happily swap it with mine."
"The kids swapped lunches at recess."
"We swapped seats so she could sit by the window."
noun
1
An exchange of two comparable things.
"They agreed to a straight swap of houses for the summer."
2
A financial contract in which two parties exchange streams of payments, such as interest rates.
"The company entered an interest rate swap to protect itself from rising loan costs."
"Under the swap, one party pays a fixed rate and the other pays a floating rate."
"The bank arranged a currency swap to hedge against exchange rate risk."
How to use swap
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo trade one thing for another, or the trade itself.
Common pairings
swap seats
a fair swap
currency swap
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Word forms
- Plural
- swaps
- Third person singular
- swaps
- Past tense
- swapped
Fill the gap
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If you dislike your starter, I will happily _____ it with mine.
Etymology
From Middle English swappen, originally meaning "to strike" — the idea being that people once struck hands together to seal a trade.
Related words
Rhymes for swap
See all rhymes for swap →Frequently asked questions
What does “swap” mean?
The word “swap” means to exchange one thing for another. In plain terms, to trade one thing for another, or the trade itself.
How do you pronounce “swap”?
“Swap” is pronounced SWOP (/ˈswɑp/ in IPA).
How do you use “swap” in a sentence?
Here is “swap” used in a sentence: “The kids swapped lunches at recess.”
What is another word for “swap”?
Words with a similar meaning to “swap” include switch, knock, speed, tap and zoom.
What part of speech is “swap”?
Depending on how it is used, “swap” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “swap” come from?
The word “swap” comes from Middle English. From Middle English swappen, originally meaning "to strike" — the idea being that people once struck hands together to seal a trade.
Is “swap” a common word?
“Swap” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “swap” have?
“Swap” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to exchange one thing for another.
What is the difference between swap and switch?
Swap emphasises exchanging two comparable things between people or places, as in swapping seats with a friend. Switch emphasises changing from one thing to another and can be one-directional, as in switching brands, though the two overlap when both parties exchange places.
What is the difference between swap and trade?
A swap is a direct exchange of one thing for another comparable thing, usually without money changing hands. Trade often involves buying and selling or a commercial transaction, so it more commonly includes money.
How does a swap work in finance?
In finance, a swap is a contract in which two parties agree to exchange streams of payments with each other. A common example is an interest-rate swap, where one party's variable interest payments are exchanged for another's fixed payments.
Is it spelled 'swapped' or 'swaped'?
The correct spellings double the final p: swapped and swapping. Because swap ends in a single vowel followed by a single consonant, that consonant is doubled before adding -ed or -ing.
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