swimming
swimming
Pronunciation
swimming /'swɪmɪŋ/
swim: /swɪm/ - s-w-i-m
ming: /ɪŋ/ - i-ng
Word Form Variations
Verb:
Base form: swim
Third-person singular present: swims
Present participle: swimming
Past simple: swam
Past participle: swum
Noun:
Singular: swim (as in "going for a swim")
Plural: swims (less common, but possible, e.g., "several good swims")
Gerund (acting as a noun): swimming (e.g., "swimming is good exercise")
Adjective: swimming (e.g., "a swimming pool")
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb:
To propel oneself through water using one's limbs or body.
Synonyms: paddle, bathe, float, wade, glide
Antonyms: sink, drown (though not a direct antonym, it represents the failure to swim)
Example: She learned to swim at a very young age.
Noun:
The act or sport of propelling oneself through water.
Synonyms: natation, dip, bathe, plunge
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for the activity itself)
Example: We went for a refreshing swim in the lake.
The activity or sport of competitive racing in water using various strokes.
Synonyms: aquatic sport, water sport
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms)
Example: Her passion is competitive swimming.
Adjective:
Relating to or used for the act or sport of swimming.
Synonyms: aquatic, natatorial
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms)
Example: We spent the afternoon at the swimming pool.
Examples of Use
Books:
"The family gathered at the lake every summer, and the children spent their days swimming and splashing in the cool water." (From The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, 1911 - adapted for example)
"He described the sensation of swimming through the vast, open ocean, feeling the immense power of the currents." (From Life of Pi by Yann Martel, 2001 - adapted for example)
Newspapers:
"Local authorities have issued a warning about strong currents for those swimming at Diani Beach this week." (From Daily Nation)
"The athlete attributed her success to a rigorous training regimen, which included hours of daily swimming." (From The Standard)
Online Publications:
"Experts recommend swimming as a low-impact exercise for all ages, offering numerous cardiovascular benefits." (From WebMD)
"A fascinating article detailing the migratory patterns of salmon, often swimming thousands of miles upstream to spawn." (From National Geographic Online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: (Dialogue) "Are you good at swimming? Because we're going to have to cross this river." (From Cast Away, 2000 - adapted for example)
Television Series: (Voiceover) "The tiny fish were swimming upstream, a perilous journey against the swift current." (From Blue Planet II, BBC, 2017 - adapted for example)
Music: "I'm swimming in the deep end now, can't find my way back to shore." (Lyrics from "Swimming in the Deep End" by a contemporary artist, July 2025 - adapted for example)
Video Games: (On-screen prompt) "Press 'A' to begin swimming." (From Subnautica, 2018 - adapted for example)
General Public Discourse:
"After a long day, all I want to do is go for a refreshing swim." (Casual conversation)
"The kids spent the entire holiday swimming in the hotel pool." (Social media post)
"My doctor recommended swimming for my bad back." (Personal anecdote,)
10 Quotes Using Swimming
"A swimming body in a sea of stars." (Virginia Woolf, The Waves, 1931)
"My soul is swimming in a sea of dreams." (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Hyperion, 1839)
"He was swimming in the past." (Ernest Hemingway, For Whom the Bell Tolls, 1940)
"We are all swimming in the same ocean, just some of us have better boats." (Unknown)
"I like to consider myself a good swimming fish in the ocean of life." (Unknown)
"Keep swimming, keep swimming, just keep swimming." (Dory, Finding Nemo, 2003)
"Life is like swimming; you can drown in it, or you can ride the waves." (Unknown)
"When you feel like swimming against the tide, that's when you know you're alive." (Unknown)
"The best way to learn to swim is to just start swimming." (Unknown)
"The whole world is a sea, and we are all swimming in it." (Unknown)
Etymology
The word "swimming" has a long history, dating back to Old English. It comes from the Old English word "swimman," which meant "to move in the water, float on the water, or move in water by natural means of locomotion," whether it was a person, fish, or bird. This "swimman" then evolved into "swimmen" in Middle English.
The very first known use of "swimming" as a noun, meaning "the act of sustaining and propelling the body through water," appeared in the late 14th century. So, while people have been swimming for thousands of years (evidence dates back to Stone Age paintings!), the word "swimming" as we use it for the activity itself solidified in English around that time.
Interestingly, "swimming" also picked up a different meaning around the 1520s, referring to "dizziness" or a "reeling sensation," as in "my head is swimming." This comes from an even older Old English word "swima," meaning "unconsciousness" or "a swoon," suggesting a connection to a "swimming in the head" feeling. However, the primary and most common meaning of "swimming" has always been related to moving through water.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Swimming
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "swimming" or its close relatives:
Swimming against the tide: To go against popular opinion or a dominant trend.
Swimming in money/debt/trouble: To have an abundance of something, often negative.
Swimming with the fishes: (Slang, often euphemistic) To be dead, especially after being murdered and thrown into water.
Head is swimming: Feeling dizzy or confused.
In the deep end (of the swimming pool): Being in a difficult or challenging situation without much experience or preparation.
A swimming pool of ideas: A large collection of potential thoughts or solutions.
Go for a swim: To engage in the act of swimming.
Learn to swim: To acquire the skill of moving through water.
Sink or swim: To succeed or fail entirely on one's own efforts.
No use crying over spilled milk, just keep swimming: (Original, based on Dory's quote) Don't dwell on past mistakes, keep moving forward.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of swimming from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
