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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- swishes
- Third person singular
- swishes
- Past tense
- swished
- Comparative
- swisher, more swish
- Superlative
- swishest, most swish
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.
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.
