swim
/swɪm/ IELTSAcademic
verb
To move through water using your arms, legs, or body. It can also mean to travel in water naturally, like a fish.
- I swim every morning.
- Can you swim across this river?
- Turtles swim very well.
noun
An act or period of swimming. It can also mean a short time in water for pleasure or exercise.
- We had a quick swim after lunch.
- Let's go for a swim.
- That swim left me refreshed.
Adinary Nuance
Swim is the general word for moving through water. It is more everyday than bathe, which can mean washing in water, and more natural than dive, which means going under water quickly. Use swim for the activity itself, not just being in water.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- bơi
- Spanish
- nadar
- Chinese
- 游泳
- Japanese
- 泳ぐ
- Korean
- 수영하다
Etymology
Swim comes from Old English swīman, meaning “to move, float, or drift.” It has been used in English since before the 12th century.
Common phrases
go for a swimswim acrossswim laneswim upstream
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is swim a verb or a noun?
- It is both. As a verb, it means to move through water. As a noun, it means an act of swimming.
- What is the difference between swim and float?
- To swim means you move yourself through water. To float means you stay on the surface with little or no movement.
- Is swim used in formal writing?
- Yes. It is a common, neutral word used in everyday speech and formal writing.
- Can I say 'do a swim'?
- No, native speakers usually say 'go for a swim' or 'have a swim.'