swaps
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All four words describe giving one thing and receiving another. 'Swap' is the most casual and conversational — friends swap phone numbers or swap stories, and in British English it is also used where Americans might say 'trade' (e.g., 'swap seats'). 'Exchange' is more formal and general; it covers money exchange at a bank as well as exchanging ideas or gifts. 'Trade' is common for physical objects and can imply a professional deal ('trade a used car for a newer model'). 'Barter' is the most formal and specific — it means exchanging goods or services without using money ('the villagers bartered vegetables for clothing'). In everyday speech, swap is the natural choice for most situations.
Common collocations
Etymology
The word 'swap' originally entered English in the 1300s, likely from the Middle English word 'swappen,' meaning 'to strike' or 'to hit.' The connection is thought to come from the striking of hands together when two people finalise a deal — the physical gesture of sealing an agreement became the word for the exchange itself. By the 1600s it was already being used to mean 'to exchange or barter.'
First known use
14th century
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a Noun