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Definition of 'swing'

Word Frequency

swing

(swɪŋ )
Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense swings , present participle swinging , past tense, past participle swung
1. verb
If something swings or if you swing it, it moves repeatedly backwards and forwards or from side to side from a fixed point.
The sail of the little boat swung crazily from one side to the other. [VERB adverb/preposition]
She was swinging a bag containing a new dress. [VERB noun]
Ian sat on the end of the table, one leg swinging. [VERB-ing]
Synonyms: sway, rock, wave, veer   More Synonyms of swing
Swing is also a noun.
...a woman walking with a slight swing to her hips.
2. verb
If something swings in a particular direction or if you swing it in that direction, it moves in that direction with a smooth, curving movement.
The torchlight swung across the little beach and out over the water, searching. [VERB preposition/adverb]
The canoe found the current and swung around. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Roy swung his legs carefully off the couch and sat up. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: turn, veer, swivel, bear   More Synonyms of swing
Swing is also a noun.
When he's not on the tennis court, you'll find him practising his golf swing.
3. verb
If a vehicle swings in a particular direction, or if the driver swings it in a particular direction, they turn suddenly in that direction.
Joanna swung back on to the main approach and headed for the airport. [VERB adverb/preposition]
The tyres dug into the grit as he swung the car off the road. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
4. verb
If someone swings around, they turn around quickly, usually because they are surprised.
She swung around to him, spilling her tea without noticing it. [VERB adverb]
5. verb
If you swing at a person or thing, you try to hit them with your arm or with something that you are holding.
Blanche swung at her but she moved her head back and Blanche missed. [VERB + at]
I picked up his baseball bat and swung at the man's head. [VERB + at]
[Also V n at n]
Synonyms: hit out, strike, swipe [informal], lash out at   More Synonyms of swing
Swing is also a noun.
I often want to take a swing at someone to relieve my feelings.
6. countable noun
A swing is a seat hanging by two ropes or chains from a metal frame or from the branch of a tree. You can sit on the seat and move forwards and backwards through the air.
7. uncountable noun
Swing is a style of jazz dance music that was popular in the 1930's. It was played by big bands.
8. countable noun
A swing in people's opinions, attitudes, or feelings is a change in them, especially a sudden or big change.
There was a massive swing away from the governing party in the election.
Educational practice is liable to sudden swings and changes.
They suffer from violent mood swings.
Synonyms: fluctuation, change, shift, switch   More Synonyms of swing
9. verb
If people's opinions, attitudes, or feelings swing, they change, especially in a sudden or extreme way.
In two years' time there is a presidential election, and the voters could swing again. [VERB]
The mood amongst Tory MPs seems to be swinging away from their leader. [VERB adverb/preposition]
10. countable noun [usu N through n]
If someone such as a politician makes a swing through a particular country or area, they go on a quick trip through it, visiting a number of different places.
[US, journalism]
...a campaign swing through South Dakota and Texas.
11. 
in full swing
12. 
get into the swing of
13. 
go with a swing
14. 
swings and roundabouts
15.  no room to swing a cat
More Synonyms of swing
COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers

Video: pronunciation of 'swing'

Word Frequency

swing in British

(swɪŋ )
verbWord forms: swings, swinging or swung
1. 
to move or cause to move rhythmically to and fro, as a free-hanging object; sway
2. (intransitive)
to move, walk, etc, with a relaxed and swaying motion
3. 
to pivot or cause to pivot, as on a hinge
4. 
to move or cause to move in a curve
the car swung around the bend
5. 
to move or cause to move by suspending or being suspended
6. 
to hang or be hung so as to be able to turn freely
7. (intransitive) slang
to be hanged
he'll swing for it
8. 
to alter or cause to alter habits, a course, etc
9. (transitive) informal
to influence or manipulate successfully
I hope he can swing the deal
10. (transitive; foll by up)
to raise or hoist, esp in a sweeping motion
11. (intransitive; often foll by at)
to hit out or strike (at), esp with a sweeping motion
12. (transitive)
to wave (a weapon, etc) in a sweeping motion; flourish
13. 
to arrange or play (music) with the rhythmically flexible and compulsive quality associated with jazz
14. (intransitive)
(of popular music, esp jazz, or of the musicians who play it) to have this quality
15. slang
to be lively and modern
16. (intransitive) slang
to swap sexual partners in a group, esp habitually
17. (intransitive) cricket
to bowl (a ball) with swing or (of a ball) to move with a swing
18. 
to turn (a ship or aircraft) in order to test compass error
19.  swing both ways
20.  swing the lead
noun
21. 
the act or manner of swinging or the distance covered while swinging
a wide swing
22. 
a sweeping stroke or blow
23. boxing
a wide punch from the side similar to but longer than a hook
24. cricket
the lateral movement of a bowled ball through the air
25. 
any free-swaying motion
26. 
any curving movement; sweep
27. 
something that swings or is swung, esp a suspended seat on which a person may sit and swing back and forth
28. 
a. 
a kind of popular dance music influenced by jazz, usually played by big bands and originating in the 1930s
b. 
(as modifier)
swing music
29.  swingbeat
30. prosody
a steady distinct rhythm or cadence in prose or verse
31. informal
the normal round or pace
get into the swing of things
32. 
a. 
a fluctuation, as in some business activity, voting pattern, etc
b. (as modifier)
able to bring about a swing in a voting pattern
swing party
c. (as modifier)
having a mixed voting history, and thus becoming a target for political election campaigners
a swing state
33. US informal
free scope; freedom of activity
34. mainly US
a circular tour
35. Canadian
a tour of a particular area or region
36. Canadian
(in the North) a train of freight sleighs or canoes
37.  go with a swing
38.  in full swing
39.  swings and roundabouts
Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Word origin of 'swing'
Old English swingan; related to Old Frisian swinga, Old High German swingan
Word Frequency

swing in American

(swɪŋ ; swiŋ)
verb intransitiveWord forms: swung or ˈswinging
1. 
to sway or move backward and forward with regular movement, as a freely hanging object or a ship at anchor; oscillate
2. 
to walk, trot, etc. with freely swaying, relaxed movements of the limbs
3. 
to deliver or aim a blow; strike (at)
4. 
to turn or pivot, as on a hinge or swivel
the door swung open
5. 
to move in a curve, esp. in order to go around something
the driver swung around the stalled car
6. 
a. 
to hang; be suspended
b.  Informal
to be put to death by hanging
7. 
to move backward and forward on a swing (sense 28)
8.  US
to have an exciting rhythmic quality
music that really swings
9.  US, Slang
to be ultra-fashionable, sophisticated, active, etc., esp. in the pursuit of pleasure
10.  Slang
a. 
to engage in casual sexual relations, esp. in an open, deliberate way
b. 
to exchange partners with other couples and engage in sexual activity
said esp. of married couples
verb transitive
11. 
a. 
to move or wave (a weapon, tool, bat, etc.) with a sweeping motion; flourish; brandish
b. 
to lift or hoist with a sweeping motion
12. 
to cause (a hanging object) to sway backward and forward; specif., to cause (a person on a swing) to move backward and forward by pushing or pulling the swing
13. 
to cause to turn or pivot, as on a hinge or swivel
to swing a door open
14. 
to cause to hang freely, so as to be capable of easy movement
to swing a hammock
15. 
to cause to move in a curve
to swing a car around a corner
16. 
to move (a ship or aircraft) through the points of the compass in order to check compass error
17.  US, Informal
to cause to come about successfully; manage with the desired results
to swing an election
18.  US
to play (music) in the style of swing
noun
19. 
the act or process of swinging
20. 
the arc, or the length of the arc, through which something swings
the swing of a pendulum
21. 
the manner of swinging; specif., the manner of striking with a golf club, baseball bat, the arm, etc.
22. 
freedom to do as one wishes or is naturally inclined
given full swing in the matter
23. 
a free, relaxed motion, as in walking
24. 
a sweeping blow or stroke
25. 
the course, development, or movement of some activity, business, etc.
26. 
the power, or force, behind something swung or thrown; impetus
27. 
rhythm, as of poetry or music
28. 
a device, as a seat hanging from ropes or chains, on which one can sit and swing backward and forward as a form of amusement
29. 
a trip or tour
a swing around the country
30.  US
a style of jazz, esp. in its development from about 1935 to 1945, characterized by the use of large bands, fast tempos, and written arrangements for ensemble playing
31.  US, Business; Informal
regular upward and downward change in the price of stocks or in some other business activity
adjective US
32. 
of, in, or playing swing (music)
33. 
having or likely to have decisive power, as in determining the result of an election
the swing vote
Idioms:
in full swing
SYNONYMY NOTE: swing suggests the to-and-fro motion of something that is suspended, hinged, pivoted, etc. so that it is free to turn or swivel at the point or points of attachment [a swinging door]; sway describes the swinging motion of something flexible or self-balancing, whether attached or unattached, in yielding to pressure, weight, etc. [branches swaying in the wind]; to oscillate is to swing back and forth, within certain limits, in the manner of a pendulum; , vibrate suggests the rapid, regular, back-and-forth motion of a plucked, taut string and is applied in physics to a similar movement of the particles of a fluid or elastic medium [sound vibrations]; fluctuate implies continual, irregular alternating movements and is now most common in its extended sense [fluctuating prices]; undulate implies a gentle wavelike motion or form [undulating land]
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. All rights reserved.
Derived forms
swingy (ˈswingy)
adjectiveWord forms: ˈswingier or ˈswingiest
Word origin of 'swing'
ME swingen < OE swingan, akin to Ger schwingen, to brandish < IE base *sweng-, to curve, swing

Example sentences containing 'swing'

These examples have been automatically selected and may contain sensitive content. Read more…
You will be surprised how quickly you get back into the swing of things. MacEoin, Beth Healthy By Nature (1994)The regulatory pendulum has swung from one extreme of too little to the other of too much. Times, Sunday Times (2014)They will be catching up with a career that has been in full swing for six decades. Times, Sunday Times (2008)The doors swung together again and a key turned in the lock. Travers, P L What the Bee Knows - reflections on myth, symbol and story (1989)The swing style of the jacket is perfect for hiding any lumps and bumps you might have. The Sun (2013)Use your shoulders and hips to swing the bell away from your body. Times, Sunday Times (2012)You could also either swing longer or use a more powerful club. Lewis, Beverly Winning Golf for Women (1993)Try to avoid swinging your arms across your body. The Sun (2011)If your joints are a bit stiff then gentle swinging or rhythmic movements are generally good. Wallace, Louise M & Bundy, Christine Coping with Angina (1990)Swing the rope around you as you turn on the spot. Times, Sunday Times (2008)It might take one or two matches to get into the swing of things. The Sun (2007)Two or three bad games and things can change and swing in a big way. Times, Sunday Times (2012)The accomplished drummer leads his band for jazz and swing. Times, Sunday Times (2009)They swung the door wide open and opened fire. Times, Sunday Times (2007)It swung backwards and forwards like a pendulum. The Sun (2014)The first hazel catkins are beginning to turn yellow and swing loose on the twigs. Times, Sunday Times (2010)Then there were the swing changes. Times, Sunday Times (2013)The setting was a swing dance party at a friend's home. Christianity Today (2000)You hear softly piped Fifties swing music. Times, Sunday Times (2009)They seemed to be struggling against the political current; now it has swung in their direction. Times, Sunday Times (2006)The wooden seat of a swing, heating up in the sun. Times, Sunday Times (2014)

Word Lists

chair, cricket, golf, Popular music types

Trends of 'swing'

In Common Usage. swing is one of the 10000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

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Translations for 'swing'

British English: swing /swɪŋ/ NOUN
A swing is the action of moving backward and forward or from side to side.
...a swing of the hips.
  • American English: swing
  • Arabic: تَأَرْجُح
  • Brazilian Portuguese: balanço
  • Chinese: 摇摆
  • Croatian: njihaljka
  • Czech: houpání
  • Danish: gynge
  • Dutch: schommel
  • European Spanish: columpio
  • Finnish: keinunta
  • French: balançoire
  • German: Schaukel
  • Greek: κούνια παιχνίδι
  • Italian: oscillazione
  • Japanese: 揺れ
  • Korean: 흔들림
  • Norwegian: gynge
  • Polish: kołysanie
  • European Portuguese: balanço
  • Romanian: balansare
  • Russian: качание
  • Spanish: columpio
  • Swedish: gunga
  • Thai: การแกว่งไปมา
  • Turkish: sallanma
  • Ukrainian: хитання
  • Vietnamese: động tác đu đưa
British English: swing /swɪŋ/ VERB
If something swings or if you swing it, it moves repeatedly backwards and forwards or from side to side from a fixed point.
The sail of the little boat swung wildly from one side to the other.
  • American English: swing
  • Arabic: يُرْجِحُ
  • Brazilian Portuguese: balançar
  • Chinese: 摇摆
  • Croatian: njihati
  • Czech: houpat (se)
  • Danish: svinge
  • Dutch: schommelen
  • European Spanish: oscilar
  • Finnish: keinua keinussa
  • French: balancer
  • German: schaukeln
  • Greek: αιωρούμαι
  • Italian: oscillare
  • Japanese: 揺れる
  • Korean: 흔들흔들 움직이다
  • Norwegian: svinge
  • Polish: zakołysać się
  • European Portuguese: balançar
  • Romanian: a se balansa
  • Russian: качаться
  • Spanish: columpiarse
  • Swedish: svänga
  • Thai: แกว่ง
  • Turkish: sallanmak
  • Ukrainian: хитати(ся)
  • Vietnamese: đu đưa

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Nearby words of 'swing'

  • swinepox
  • swinery
  • swinestone
  • swing
  • swing band
  • swing both ways
  • swing bridge

  • All ENGLISH words that begin with 'S'

Related Terms of 'swing'

  • swing-bin
  • swing by
  • mood swing
  • swing band
  • swing door

  • View more related words

Source

Definition of swing from the Collins English Dictionary

Can and could

Both these verbs indicate ability in some respect. The use of could is usual in clauses that contain a reference to past time. Morag can speak French quite well now. I couldn’t play chess two y...
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Scrabble score for 'swing': 9
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