swap

1 of 2

verb

ˈswäp 

swapped; swapping

transitive verb

1

a

: to give in trade : barter

b

: exchange sense 2

2

: to take turns in telling

swap stories

intransitive verb

: to make an exchange

swapper noun

swap

2 of 2

noun

: an act, instance, or process of exchanging one thing for another

Synonyms

Verb

• change
• commute
• exchange
• shift
• substitute
• switch
• trade

Noun

• back-and-forth
• barter
• commutation
• dicker
• exchange
• quid pro quo
• trade
• trade-off
• truck

Examples of swap in a Sentence

Verb

He swapped his cupcake for a candy bar.

I swapped seats with my sister so she could see the stage better.

I liked her blue notebook and she liked my red one, so we swapped.

Noun

They made the swap in secret.

we made a swap: I'll do the dishes tonight and she'll do them for me tomorrow

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Long, communal tables have been swapped out for two- and four-tops, and a back garden is currently off-limits while being renovated. —Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 16 Jan. 2025

Over glasses of Ruinart champagne, glamorous content creators Jessica Wang, Hannah Bronfman, and Tina Leung swapped notes on their jewelry selections. —Freya Drohan, Vogue, 16 Jan. 2025

Noun

The changing season doesn’t just mean a swap of your wardrobe and coat selection but also a new libation. —Patrice J. Williams, Essence, 15 Jan. 2025

Winter 2025 Dinner Party Themes Soup Swap What better way to nestle into cozy season than a soup swap? —Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 15 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English swappen to strike; from the practice of striking hands in closing a business deal

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1625, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing swap

• swap meet
• swap stories

Kids Definition

swap

verb

ˈswäp

swapped; swapping

: to give in exchange : make an exchange : trade

swap noun

Legal Definition

swap

noun

ˈswäp

1

: an exchange of securities

2

: a derivative contract in which two parties (as corporations) agree to exchange rates especially relating to debt