swollen
SWOH-luhn
Swollen (adj) means Enlarged or puffed up beyond the normal size, usually from injury, illness, or fluid buildup. Example: “His ankle was too swollen to fit into his shoe.”
adj
1
Enlarged or puffed up beyond the normal size, usually from injury, illness, or fluid buildup.
"His ankle was too swollen to fit into his shoe."
"She woke up with swollen, tired eyes."
How to use swollen
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPuffed up bigger than normal, usually because of injury or illness.
Common pairings
swollen ankle
swollen glands
swollen eyes
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more swollen
- Superlative
- most swollen
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His ankle was too _____ to fit into his shoe.
Etymology
The past participle of swell, from Old English geswollen.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for swollen
See all rhymes for swollen →Frequently asked questions
What does “swollen” mean?
The word “swollen” means enlarged or puffed up beyond the normal size, usually from injury, illness, or fluid buildup. In plain terms, puffed up bigger than normal, usually because of injury or illness.
How do you pronounce “swollen”?
“Swollen” is pronounced SWOH-luhn (/ˈswoʊ.lən/ in IPA).
How do you use “swollen” in a sentence?
Here is “swollen” used in a sentence: “His ankle was too swollen to fit into his shoe.”
What is the opposite of “swollen”?
The opposite of “swollen” — its antonyms — are contracted, deflated, nonswollen, shrunken and shrivelled.
What part of speech is “swollen”?
“Swollen” is an adjective.
Where does the word “swollen” come from?
The word “swollen” comes from Old English. The past participle of swell, from Old English geswollen.
Is “swollen” a common word?
“Swollen” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between swollen and inflamed?
Swollen simply describes something enlarged or puffed up beyond its normal size, regardless of cause. Inflamed specifically implies swelling accompanied by redness, heat, or irritation as part of the body's immune response. A body part can be swollen without being inflamed, for example from fluid retention rather than infection.
What causes something to become swollen?
Something becomes swollen due to injury, illness, or a buildup of fluid beneath the skin or in tissue. Common examples include a swollen ankle after a sprain or swollen glands during an infection.
Is swollen used only for body parts?
No, swollen can describe non-body things that are puffed up or enlarged beyond normal, such as a swollen river after heavy rain. The core meaning of being abnormally enlarged applies broadly, though it is most frequently used for parts of the body.
