swamped
/swɒmp/ (bre, ipa) · [swˈɔmpt] /swɑːmp/ (ame, ipa)
swamped — noun
1. an area of soft, wet land, often partly covered with water, where trees and bush
an area of soft, wet land, often partly covered with water, where trees and bushes grow
The local conservation group is working to protect the swamp near Blackwater Creek from hotel developers.
countable: the swamp / a swamp
Heavy rain turned the field behind the school into a muddy swamp.
Alligators and snakes are common in the swamps of the southern United States.
Park rangers warned hikers that the swamp path was thick with mud and tangled roots.
文法句型
swamp + is/are
the swamp(s)
用法筆記
Often refers to an area that is wet year-round, unlike a marsh which may dry out seasonally. Swamps typically have more trees and woody plants than marshes.
常見錯誤
2. a situation that is full of problems or unpleasant things and is very hard to es
a situation that is full of problems or unpleasant things and is very hard to escape from
After the factory closed, Hana felt stuck in a swamp of debt and worry about her daughter's school fees.
a swamp of [problems] — figurative use
The family bakery was pulled into a legal swamp over its brand name that took years to escape.
After the breakup, Meera was trapped in a swamp of anger and guilt her friends could not understand.
The ceasefire talks between the two regions sank into a swamp of mistrust and broken promises from both sides.
- quagmire
a more dramatic word suggesting it is very hard to escape from the situation
- mess
more informal and general; can be physical or abstract
- predicament
focuses on an unpleasant situation that is difficult to get out of
文法句型
a swamp of [problems/debt/emotion]
用法筆記
Always used figuratively — the subject is an abstract problem (debt, paperwork, confusion), not a physical place. The pattern is almost always 'a swamp of + [abstract noun]'.
常見錯誤
swamped — verb
- swampedpresent simple I / you / we / they
- swampeds3rd person singular
- swampeding-ing form
- swampededpast simple
1. to give someone or a system so much work, information, or requests that they can
to give someone or a system so much work, information, or requests that they cannot deal with it all
Since the article appeared online, the office has been swamped with reader letters.
passive: be swamped with [things]
Ryo was swamped with assignments during the final week of the semester.
The customer service team was completely swamped by phone calls after the price change.
Applications from overseas students have swamped the university's admissions office.
When the funding application deadline arrived, the research team was swamped with last-minute paperwork from every department.
文法句型
be swamped with + noun (work/requests)
be swamped by + noun (people/calls)
用法筆記
This is by far the most common use of 'swamp' in everyday English. The passive form 'be swamped with' is especially frequent — e.g., 'I'm swamped with work.' The active form ('they swamped us with orders') is also common.
常見錯誤
2. to flood something with water so heavily that it is completely covered or filled
to flood something with water so heavily that it is completely covered or filled
The rising river swamped the coastal villages along the shore.
active: river + swamped + place
A huge wave swamped their small fishing boat near the harbour.
The campsite was completely swamped by floodwater after the storm.
Heavy rains swamped the basement, ruining boxes of old photographs.
文法句型
swamp + noun (place/object)
be swamped by + noun (water/wave)
用法筆記
Frequently used in the passive voice ('was swamped by a wave'). The agent is almost always a body of water (river, wave, rain, flood).
常見錯誤
3. if a piece of clothing swamps someone, it is much too large for their body and h
if a piece of clothing swamps someone, it is much too large for their body and hangs very loosely
Beatrix tried on her father's old coat, and it swamped her, reaching below her knees.
clothing + swamps + person
The borrowed sweater swamped the child, covering his hands completely.
Tuan felt the oversized uniform swamped his thin frame.
Yasmin tried on the dress, but it swamped her figure and looked shapeless.
文法句型
clothes + swamp + person
用法筆記
Almost always used in the active voice with clothes as the subject. Unlike verb sense 2, the passive form ('was swamped by the coat') is very rare. Not used in formal writing.