swim
/swɪm/ (bre, ipa) · /swɪm/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈswim/ (ame, mw)
swim — verb
- swimpresent simple I / you / we / they
- swimshe / she / it
- swampast simple
- swumpast participle
- swimming-ing form
1. to push your body forward in water using your limbs so that you stay on top of t
to push your body forward in water using your limbs so that you stay on top of the surface and travel where you want to go.
Every morning before school, Christopher swims twenty laps in the community pool.
swim + distance (twenty laps)
Lakshmi's mother said the children could not swim in the river because the current moved too fast.
swim + place preposition (in the river)
During summer vacation at the beach, Imran finally learned to swim with help from his older cousin.
Camille prefers to swim in the sea because she loves the feeling of the waves against her skin.
When the boat flipped over, Ada had to swim to the shore through the cold, rough water.
文法句型
swim + adverb/preposition
swim + noun phrase (distance or stretch of water)
用法筆記
Frequently used with adverbs of direction (across, through, to, towards) and prepositions of place (in, at). The transitive form is used for distances (swim a kilometre) or bodies of water (swim the Channel). The present participle is swimming (double m).
常見錯誤
2. to be too heavily covered or filled with a liquid, especially when food has an u
to be too heavily covered or filled with a liquid, especially when food has an unpleasant amount of sauce, oil, or dressing.
When the waiter brought the salad, it was swimming in a thick cream dressing that ruined the taste.
swim in + (liquid)
The pasta arrived swimming with butter, which made the dish too rich for Asher to finish.
swim with + (liquid)
Minho does not like his oatmeal swimming with milk — just a small splash is enough for him.
The cheap restaurant served vegetables swimming in oil, and Tunde could barely eat a single bite.
- drenched in
stronger and more negative than 'swimming in'; implies soaking wetness
- soaked with
similar meaning but less specific to food; can refer to any material
- light on
having only a small amount of something; opposite of excessive coverage
文法句型
swim in + noun (liquid/sauce)
swim with + noun (liquid/sauce)
用法筆記
Almost always used in the continuous form (is swimming / was swimming). The phrase carries a negative connotation — the amount of liquid is seen as excessive and unpleasant. The subject is always food or a dish.
常見錯誤
3. if things you look at swim, they appear to move slowly or twist around in an uns
if things you look at swim, they appear to move slowly or twist around in an unsteady way, usually because you are ill, drunk, or extremely tired.
After the long boat ride, the walls of the room seemed to swim before Ada's eyes.
seem to swim before [possessive] eyes
The letters on the page began to swim as Piotr tried to read with a high fever.
begin to swim
When Salma stood up too quickly, the trees outside the window appeared to swim in front of her face.
As the fever got worse, Theo watched the ceiling tiles swim in slow circles above his bed.
文法句型
object + swim (before eyes/vision)
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 4: in sense 3, the objects themselves look like they are moving. The subject is the thing being seen (letters, walls, trees), not the person. Often used with 'seem to' or 'appear to' or 'begin to'.
4. describes the dizzy, mixed-up feeling a person gets when they are ill, exhausted
describes the dizzy, mixed-up feeling a person gets when they are ill, exhausted, shocked, or very emotional — their head feels as though it is turning.
Sari's head swam when she heard the shocking news about the accident.
head swam (sudden onset)
After not sleeping for two nights, Imran felt his head swimming with exhaustion.
head is swimming with (cause)
The afternoon sun was so strong that Camila's head swam and she had to sit down on the grass.
As the doctor explained the complex treatment plan, Lakshmi's head swam with confusing medical terms.
- feel dizzy
more direct and literal; can be used for any cause of dizziness
- reel
stronger, more dramatic; suggests feeling unsteady as if about to fall, often from shock
- feel clear-headed
the opposite mental state — feeling alert, focused, and steady
文法句型
head swims
head swam
head is swimming
用法筆記
The subject is always a person's 'head' (my head, her head, his head). Unlike sense 3 where objects appear to move, sense 4 describes an internal sensation of dizziness. Common in past tense ('head swam') and continuous form ('head is swimming'). Often used with 'with' to state the cause.
常見錯誤
swim — noun
1. a period of time spent swimming for pleasure, exercise, or as a leisure activity
a period of time spent swimming for pleasure, exercise, or as a leisure activity.
On hot summer weekends, the Nakano family enjoys a long swim in the lake after lunch.
a long swim (noun phrase as object)
Vinícius decided to go for a quick swim before the restaurant opened for dinner service.
go for a swim
After her morning swim in the sea, Salma felt full of energy and ready to start work.
The children were so excited about their first swim in the ocean that they could barely fall asleep.
文法句型
go for a swim
have a swim
a swim
after/before a swim
用法筆記
Typically used in the pattern 'go for a swim' (British and American) or 'have a swim' (more British). The noun is usually singular when referring to one session. The article 'a' is almost always used.
swim — adjective
- swimpositive
- swimmercomparative
- swimmestsuperlative
1. relating to swimming or used for swimming, describing equipment, facilities, clo
relating to swimming or used for swimming, describing equipment, facilities, clothing, or activities associated with swimming.
Every member of the swim team must wear a cap and goggles during practice sessions.
swim team / swim + noun
Piotr bought a new swimsuit for his holiday in Thailand next month with his friends.
The swim coach taught the beginners how to breathe correctly while doing the front crawl.
Nia packed her swim bag with a towel, goggles, and sunscreen before leaving for the pool.
文法句型
swim + noun
swimming + noun
用法筆記
This adjective only appears before a noun (attributive position), never after a linking verb. In British English, 'swimming costume' and 'swimming trunks' are more common; in American English, 'swimsuit' and 'swim trunks' are preferred. 'Swimming pool' is used in both varieties.