Pronunciation: /swɛl/

Definitions of swell

noun a gradual increase in size or volume

Example Sentences

A1 I went for a swim at the beach and got a swell on my ankle.

A2 The surfer caught a big swell and rode it all the way to shore.

B1 The doctor examined the swell on my arm and said it was just a minor infection.

B2 The swell in the ocean was perfect for surfing, with waves reaching up to six feet.

C1 The swell of support from the community helped the family through their difficult time.

C2 The political candidate experienced a swell in popularity after their inspiring speech.

verb to increase in size or volume, especially as a result of pressure or accumulation

Example Sentences

A1 The balloon swelled up with air.

A2 She felt her ankle swell after twisting it.

B1 The river swelled after heavy rainfall.

B2 His pride swelled when he received the award.

C1 The company's profits swelled by 20% last quarter.

C2 Her heart swelled with gratitude as she accepted the prestigious award.

adjective excellent or very good

Example Sentences

A1 The weather is swell today.

A2 She had a swell time at the party.

B1 The restaurant received swell reviews for its food.

B2 The new movie has been getting swell feedback from critics.

C1 Despite the challenges, he managed to maintain a swell attitude.

C2 The company's profits have been consistently swell over the past few years.

adverb in a very good or excellent manner

Example Sentences

A1 The balloon swelled up quickly.

A2 She felt swell after taking the medicine.

B1 The river swelled with heavy rain, causing flooding.

B2 The crowd swelled as more people arrived for the concert.

C1 His ego swelled after receiving the prestigious award.

C2 The company's profits continued to swell year after year.

Examples of swell in a Sentence

formal The doctor noted that the patient's swollen ankle was beginning to swell even more.

informal I can feel my cheeks starting to swell up from all the food I've been eating.

slang I heard that party was so lit, it made my heart swell with joy.

figurative As the music swelled, the emotions of the audience reached a peak.

Grammatical Forms of swell

past tense

swelled

plural

swells

comparative

sweller

superlative

swellest

present tense

swell

future tense

will swell

perfect tense

have swelled

continuous tense

is swelling

singular

swell

positive degree

swell

infinitive

to swell

gerund

swelling

participle

swelling

Origin and Evolution of swell

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'swell' originated from Middle English 'swellen' which is derived from Old English 'swellan' meaning to grow or become larger.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'swell' has evolved to not only describe physical expansion or growth but also to express admiration or approval, as in 'That's swell!'