swing

1 of 3

verb

ˈswiŋ 

swung ˈswəŋ  ; swinging ˈswiŋ-iŋ 

transitive verb

1

a

: to cause to move vigorously through a wide arc or circle

swing an ax

b

: to cause to sway to and fro

c(1)

: to cause to turn on an axis

(2)

: to cause to face or move in another direction

swing the car into a side road

2

: to suspend so as to permit swaying or turning

3

: to convey by suspension

cranes swinging cargo into the ship's hold

4

a(1)

: to influence decisively

swing a lot of votes

(2)

: to bring around by influence

b

: to handle successfully : manage

wasn't able to swing a new car on his income

swing a deal

5

: to play or sing (something, such as a melody) in the style of swing music

intransitive verb

1

: to move freely to and fro especially in suspension from an overhead support

2

a

: to die by hanging

b

: to hang freely from a support

3

: to move in or describe a circle or arc:

a

: to turn on a hinge or pivot

b

: to turn in place

c

: to convey oneself by grasping a fixed support

swing aboard the train

4

a

: to have a steady pulsing rhythm

b

: to play or sing with a lively compelling rhythm

specifically : to play swing music

5

: to shift or fluctuate from one condition, form, position, or object of attention or favor to another

swing constantly from optimism to pessimism and back

—Sinclair Lewis

6

a

: to move along rhythmically

b

: to start up in a smooth vigorous manner

ready to swing into action

7

: to hit or aim at something with a sweeping arm movement

8

a

: to be lively, exciting, and up-to-date

b

: to engage freely in sex

swing

2 of 3

noun

1

: an act or instance of swinging : swinging movement: such as

a(1)

: a stroke or blow delivered with a sweeping arm movement

a batter with a powerful swing

(2)

: a sweeping or rhythmic movement of the body or a bodily part

(3)

: a dance figure in which two dancers revolve with joined arms or hands

(4)

: jazz dancing in moderate tempo with a lilting syncopation

b(1)

: the regular movement of a freely suspended object (such as a pendulum) along an arc and back

(2)

: back and forth sweep

the swing of the tides

c(1)

: steady pulsing rhythm (as in poetry or music)

(2)

: a steady vigorous movement characterizing an activity or creative work

d(1)

: a trend toward a high or low point in a fluctuating cycle (as of business activity)

(2)

: an often periodic shift from one condition, form, position, or object of attention or favor to another

2

a

: liberty of action

b(1)

: the driving power of something swung or hurled

(2)

: steady vigorous advance : driving speed

a train approaching at full swing

3

: the progression of an activity, process, or phase of existence

the work is in full swing

4

: the arc or range through which something swings

5

: something that swings freely from or on a support

especially : a seat suspended by a rope or chains for swinging to and fro on for pleasure

6

a

: a curving course or outline

b

: a course from and back to a point : a circular tour

7

: jazz that is played (as by a big band) with a steady beat and that uses the harmonic structures of popular songs and the blues as a basis for improvisations and arrangements

8

: a short pass in football thrown to a back running to the outside

swing

3 of 3

adjective

1

: of or relating to musical swing

a swing band

swing music

swing dancing

2

: that may swing often decisively either way on an issue or in an election

swing voters

a swing state

Synonyms

Verb

• detour
• deviate
• diverge
• sheer
• swerve
• turn
• turn off
• veer
• wheel

Choose the Right Synonym for swing

swing, wave, flourish, brandish, thrash mean to wield or cause to move to and fro or up and down.

swing implies regular or uniform movement.

swing the rope back and forth

wave usually implies smooth or continuous motion.

waving the flag

flourish suggests vigorous, ostentatious, graceful movement.

flourished the winning lottery ticket

brandish implies threatening or menacing motion.

brandishing a knife

thrash suggests vigorous, abrupt, violent movement.

an infant thrashing his arms about

swing, sway, oscillate, vibrate, fluctuate, waver, undulate mean to move from one direction to its opposite.

swing implies a movement of something attached at one end or one side.

the door suddenly swung open

sway implies a slow swinging or teetering movement.

trees swaying in the breeze

oscillate stresses a usually regular alternation of direction.

an oscillating fan

vibrate suggests the rapid oscillation of an elastic body under stress or impact.

the vibrating strings of a piano

fluctuate suggests constant irregular changes of level, intensity, or value.

fluctuating interest rates

waver stresses irregular motion suggestive of reeling or tottering.

the exhausted runner wavered before collapsing

undulate suggests a gentle wavelike motion.

an undulating sea of grass

Examples of swing in a Sentence

Verb

The sheets swung on the clothesline.

The clock's pendulum stopped swinging.

She sat on the edge of the table, swinging her legs.

The monkeys were swinging from branch to branch high up in the trees.

I swung my suitcase into the backseat of the car.

She sat on the counter and swung her legs over to the other side.

She swung the door open.

Be careful how you swing that ax.

She swung the bat but missed the ball.

She swung her purse at me.

Noun

One swing of the hammer was all it took to drive the nail through the board.

the swing of a pendulum

upward swings in the stock market

The kids were playing on the swings.

We sat on the porch swing and watched the neighbors.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Miragaia likely swung its tail to drive off predators, and perhaps cause rivals to back down, rather than trying to strike potential threats. —Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Dec. 2024

The Broncos at that point had swung and missed at every bullet point of the game plan. —Nick Kosmider, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024

Noun

This year’s biggest swing was also one of the worst misfires, with early screenings prior to its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival portending critical and financial doom. —Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 17 Dec. 2024

This change may help partially explain some large swings in the data at individual schools. —Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024

Adjective

The campaign, fought in large part over immigration, offers a symbolically weighty test of voting trends in a swing suburban district ahead of the nationwide November elections. —Tim Balk, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2024

There’s no time to make mid-swing decisions. —Dallas News, 10 Mar. 2022

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to beat, fling, hurl, rush, from Old English swingan to beat, fling oneself, rush; akin to Old High German swingan to fling, rush

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1933, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing swing

• be (back) in the swing of things
• bi-swing
• got into the swing of
• go with a swing
• in full swing
• in/into the swing of
• mood swing
• new jack swing
• swing at (someone or something)
• swing both ways
• swing bridge
• swing by
• swing door
• swing into action
• swing it
• swing over
• swing set
• swing shift
• swing state
• swing the balance
• take a swing
• western swing

Kids Definition

swing

1 of 2 verb

ˈswiŋ 

swung ˈswəŋ  ; swinging ˈswiŋ-iŋ 

1

a

: to move quickly in a sweeping curve

swing an ax

b

: to sway or cause to sway to and fro or turn on an axis or hinge

swung the door open

c

: to face or move in another direction

go forward, then swing to the right

2

a

: to hang or be hung so as to permit swaying or turning

b

: to die by hanging

c

: to hang freely from support

d

: to change quickly between extremes

sales swung up sharply

3

: to handle successfully : manage

can you swing the purchase of a car

4

a

: to move along with free swaying movements

b

: to start up in a smooth vigorous manner

ready to swing into action

c

: to hit at something with a sweeping movement

5

: to be lively, exciting, and up-to-date

a town that really swings

swinger

ˈswiŋ-ər

noun

swing

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act of swinging

2

: a swinging movement, blow, or rhythm

3

: the distance that something swings

a pendulum with a 5-foot swing

4

: a swinging seat usually hung by ropes or chains

5

a

: a curving course or outline

b

: a course beginning and ending at the same point

a swing through town

c

: a sudden change in state or condition

mood swings

swing adjective