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noun

swish

swihsh

Swish (noun) means a soft rustling or hissing sound, often caused by quick movement through the air. Example: “The swish of her dress echoed down the hallway.”

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 notes

In 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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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ of her dress echoed down the hallway.

Etymology

Imitative in origin — the word was invented to mimic the sound it describes.

lap swoosh swosh

Related words

Rhymes for swish

See all rhymes for swish →

Frequently asked questions

What does “swish” mean?

The word “swish” means a soft rustling or hissing sound, often caused by quick movement through the air. In plain terms, a soft rustling/hissing sound (or to make one), a clean basketball shot, or (informally) stylish and upscale.

How do you pronounce “swish”?

“Swish” is pronounced swihsh (/swɪʃ/ in IPA).

How do you use “swish” in a sentence?

Here is “swish” used in a sentence: “The swish of her dress echoed down the hallway.”

What part of speech is “swish”?

Depending on how it is used, “swish” can be a noun, a verb and an adjective.

How many meanings does “swish” have?

“Swish” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a soft rustling or hissing sound, often caused by quick movement through the air.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial